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Self-harm

Self-harm is when you deliberately hurt yourself physically. It's often a way of trying to cope with intense feelings and emotions. Self-harm can be really dangerous, and has long-term effects on your physical and mental health. If you're struggling with self-harm, it's important that you get help and learn various ways of dealing with tough times.

Ask a therapist: Understanding self-harm

Clinical psychologist Nasalifya Namwinga breaks down what self-harm is, explains why it happens, and offers practical advice for managing urges and seeking support.

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Self-help for self-harm

In addition to other forms of support, self-help strategies can be useful in managing urges to self-harm.

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Help services for self-harm

If you or a friend are self-harming, it’s important that you talk to someone about what you’re going through.

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My Green Box: a way to manage urges to self-harm

This young girl shares her experience of using a distraction box to help her get through difficult times.

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How to help a friend who self-harms

It’s not always easy to tell if someone is self-harming, but if you’re worried about a friend, it’s important to know what signs to look for.

Related topics

CopingDepressionSuicide
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We acknowledge the traditional owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past and present. We recognise connection to Country as integral to health and wellbeing.

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ReachOut values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.

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