Helping somebody else
To the majority of the population, the urge to harm your own body is a completely bewildering concept. Due to this, people who self-harm are often labelled "attention seekers", and their self-harming can sometimes trigger responses such as anger and disgust in the people around them.
People who self-harm often feel ashamed of their self-harming and fear such reactions and condemnation. This means that some people who self-harm hide their injuries and keep their self-harm private (sometimes for many years) and delay seeking help as a result.
It is important to remember that we all have methods of coping with stressful or difficult times. Some people smoke, some drink excessive amounts of alcohol, some comfort eat, etc. All these things are harmful to our bodies - it is just that they are generally seen as more socially acceptable than self-harming.
People who self-harm are experiencing extreme distress. They need patience, understanding, compassion, care and support. There are ways in which you can help:
- Offer them an ear - really listen to what they have to say, take them seriously and respect their feelings. Try not to be critical and don't get angry or blame them for self-harming.
- Encourage them to tell someone - offer to accompany them, or to tell someone on their behalf.
- Encourage them to seek professional help - offer to attend the appointment with them.
Supporting somebody can be difficult and upsetting. Always keep in mind that you are not responsible for their self-harming and accept the fact that you cannot always be there for them whenever they feel the urge to harm themselves.
Contacts
The contacts database contains details of organisations that may be able to offer information or assistance on this issue.
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