Myth 1: People who self-harm are attempting suicide
Fact: Self-harm is most often used as a way to keep living despite experiencing emotional distress, rather than a way to end their life
Myth 2: People who self-harm are just attention-seeking
Fact: In fact, they tend to keep their self-harming a secret as a result of feelings of embarrassment, shame or guilt as well as not expecting others to understand or that it is a deeply personal act. It is not ‘just attention-seeking’ however sometimes it can be a cry for help
Myth 3: Don’t approach a person who self-harms, leave it to the professionals
Fact: Taking time to listen without judging encourages people to get their problems out into the open; the first and essential step along the road to recovery. You don’t need to focus, or even discuss, the self-harming, rather focus on the distress that is underlying the need to harm
Myth 4: You will know if someone is self-harming if they have cuts on their arms
Fact: Cutting is one form of self-harm; others include burning, hitting, bruising, swallowing, poisoning, etc. There is usually a great deal of effort made to keep the injuries and scars hidden; including actions that leave no mark or a mark in an area hidden by clothing
Myth 5: Self-harming is just the latest fashion and young people will simply grow out of it
Fact: Self-harm is not a phase or a fashion; read our blog on the different functions of self-harming. Listening to certain music, or dressing in certain ways does not lead to self-harming. People of all ages, backgrounds and of both genders self-harm. Self-harm is always a signal that something is seriously wrong
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