Self-Harm Awareness Month: What You Should Know
March is Self-Harm Awareness Month, a time to learn about self-harm, talk openly about it, and help people who are struggling find support. The goal of this month is to help people learn what self-harm is, stop the shame around it, and make sure anyone who needs help knows where to find it.
What Is Self-Harm?
Self-harm is when a person hurts their own body on purpose. Most people who self-harm do not want to die. But they are at a higher risk of suicide if they do not get help. Self-harm is not a mental illness by itself. But it is often connected to things like depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions.
It is important to recognize that people who self-harm are usually not doing it to get attention. In fact, most people hide it and feel a lot of shame and guilt.
How Common Is It?
Self-harm is more common than many people think. About 17 out of every 100 people will self-harm at some point in their life. It can happen to anyone, no matter their age, background, or gender. The average age when self-harm first happens is 13 years old. Teenagers and young adults are most likely to be affected. However, self-harm happens in all countries and in all age groups.
Why Do People Self-Harm?
People self-harm for different reasons. For some, it is a way to deal with feelings that feel too big or too painful to handle. The physical pain can make emotional pain feel smaller for a short time.
Some people self-harm because they:
Want to express feelings they do not know how to talk about
Feel out of control and want to feel in control of something
Feel numb and want to feel something
Feel guilty and want to punish themselves
Want to take their mind off something else that is hurting them
Even if self-harm brings short-term relief, it does not fix the real problem. And soon after, feelings of guilt and shame usually make things feel even worse.
Warning Signs to Know
Knowing the warning signs can help you support someone you care about. Here are some things to look for:
Unexplained cuts, bruises, or scars on the body
Wearing long sleeves or long pants even in warm weather
Hiding the body or acting secretive
Changes in mood or pulling away from friends and family
Talking negatively about themselves
Injuries that seem to be in different stages of healing
If you notice these signs in a friend or family member, the most important thing you can do is be kind. Do not get angry or react with shock or blame.
How to Help Someone
It can feel scary to find out that someone you love might be hurting themselves. But your support can make a real difference.
Listen without judging. You do not need to have all the answers. Focus on truly hearing what they are saying without trying to fix things right away. Stay calm. Showing anger, panic, or frustration can make things harder for them.
Do not give punishments. Self-harm is a sign that someone is in pain, not a sign of bad behavior. Punishing someone for it can cause them to hide it more, which can be dangerous.
Encourage getting help. A doctor, counselor, or therapist can help someone learn better ways to cope. Treatment can include therapy, group support, or other programs,
Help Is Available
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. Help is free, private, and available any time of day or night.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Recovery is possible. Help is out there. No one has to go through this alone.
Sources
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). What Is Self-Harm? samhsa.gov
U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI). Self-Harm Awareness Month. refugees.org, 2024
Penn Foundation. March Is Self-Harm Awareness Month. pennfoundation.org, 2024
Wisconsin Department of Health Services. March Is Self-Harm Awareness Month. dhs.wisconsin.gov, 2024
Mass General Brigham. Why Do People Self-Harm? massgeneralbrigham.org, 2024
Crisis Text Line. Help for Self-Harm. crisistextline.org
Families Rising. Silent Suffering: Responding to Self-Harm. wearefamiliesrising.org, 2024
Healthdirect Australia. Self-Harm Causes, Warning Signs, and Symptoms. healthdirect.gov.au, 2024