About Self-harm: self help resources

2006 statistics suggest that 11.2% of girls and 3.2% of boys in our society are committing acts of self-harm. That’s more than 1 in 10 girls and 3 in 100 boys in the UK today.

Self-harming is a big subject for our clients at Lifecentre.

We have 4 pages you can download to find out more about self-harming and what to do about it – for yourself or if you are helping someone else.

"Hope is faith holding out it's hand in the dark."

George Iles

1. What is self-harming?

What is self-harming?

Summary of contents

• Is it a new thing?

• What happens in self-harming?

• What sort of injuries are we talking about?

• What causes people to self-harm?

• What function does self-harm serve?

2. Understanding the Cycle of self-harm

Summary of contents

• The Cycle

• Build up of tension and emotion

• Trigger event

• Self-harming action followed by relief

• Guilt or shame

Understanding the Cycle of self-harm

3. Breaking the Cycle of self-harm

Breaking the Cycle of self-harm

Summary of contents

• Interrupting the build up of emotional pain

• Identifying triggers

4. Responding to self-harm

Summary of contents

• A non-judgemental attitude

• Acknowledging the self-harmer's feelings of distress

• Recognising the emotional pain behind self-harming

• Helping someone to make sense of their behaviours

• Working to find alternative coping strategies

Responding to self-harm

Other resources on self-harm:-

• MIND (for better mental health) offer more information on self harm.

• Bristol Crisis Service for Women is a national organisation that supports girls and women in emotional distress, particularly help women who harm themselves.

M Strong

A Bright Red Scream:

Self-Mutilation and the Language of Pain

An excellent book covering all aspects of self harm, mind-body connection etc

Lifecentre client

Gerrilyn Smith

Women & Self Harm

This powerful and accessible book gathers together the personal testimonies of a broad range of women who self harm.

unlocking the past	surviving the present	reclaiming the future

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