Self-Harm

• Finding out that a young person is self-harming can be difficult and upsetting. However, teachers and other school staff can play a very important role in helping young people who self-harm

Self-harm is common among young people - at least 10 per cent report having self-harmed - and it is more common in girls than boys, especially in early adolescence. Examples of ways in which a person might intentionally injure themselves include self-cutting, taking an overdose, swallowing objects or poisons, hitting or bruising, self-strangulation and burning.

Self-harm can be a way of coping with life stresses - for example, to manage emotional upset, to reduce tension, to provide a feeling of physical pain to distract from emotional pain, or to express emotions such as hurt, anger or frustration.

• Introduction to Educators and Self-Injury
• Self-Injury Resources for Schools
• Royal College of Psych: Self-Harm Resources for Teachers
• Cornell University: Self-Harm in Schools Factsheet

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