What is self-harm?

Self-harm, or self-injury, is when a person hurts his or her own body on purpose. The injuries may be minor, but sometimes they can be severe. They may leave permanent scars or cause serious health problems. Some examples are:

• Cutting yourself (such as using a razor blade, knife, or other sharp object to cut your skin)
• Punching yourself or punching things (like a wall)
• Burning yourself with cigarettes, matches, or candles
• Pulling out your hair
• Poking objects through body openings
• Breaking your bones or bruising yourself

Self-harm is not a mental disorder. It is a behavior - an unhealthy way to cope with strong feelings. However, some of the people who harm themselves do have a mental disorder.

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