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Self Harm & Suicide

Sometimes distressing problems may feel like they will never go away. Self-harm is used by some people as a way of dealing with extreme emotional pain or stress that they cannot tolerate and which they feel they cannot escape from.

Over 11,000 people per annum present to hospital emergency departments having self harmed.  Many of these are young people.

If you have self-harmed or are thinking about it, there are people who can help you work through your problems who will not judge you. Talk to someone about how you feel. If you would prefer to talk to someone without giving your name, there are organisations that can help (see below).

Having occasional thoughts of suicide is not uncommon but regularly thinking about taking your own life is more serious and you should seek help. There are organisations that can help you work through your problems, no matter how difficult they appear to you. Every problem has a solution, but sometimes because you are feeling so low you can’t see it.   Talk to someone you can trust and tell them how you are feeling.  

Help and Support

If you, or someone you know, is in crisis and needs someone to talk to:

Signs to look out for

Most people who feel suicidal don’t really want to die, they just want an end to their pain. These are some of the signs which may indicate that someone is thinking of taking their life:

Note: Some of these warning signs and risk factors can be associated with everyday behaviour. You should look at the overall picture for the person you are concerned about. However, the more warning signs and risk factors, the higher the possible risk.