Self-Harm

Self-harm is when someone hurts themselves on purpose often as a way of trying to manage distressing or overwhelming feelings and experiences.

This can take different forms that cause damage to the skin and body, including cutting themselves, burning skin, scratching skin with fingernails, hitting themselves or objects etc.

Self-harm can be dangerous and is a sign that everything isn’t right. It is important to seek professional advice as soon as possible.

How do I find out more?

Talk to someone you know and trust.

Talking to someone you trust is often the best way to get help.  This could be a friend, parent, family member, teacher, or anyone else you feel close to. 

The Young Minds website has great tips to help you talk to someone you trust.

Get professional support

You can speak to your GP (or school if a young person is self-harming) and there is a mental health concern – they can then get help with a referral to local Mental Health Services for an assessment and to think together about the different support options that could be most suited.

You can also text the 24/7 shout support number by texting ‘SHOUT’ to 85258, or call Samaritans on 116 123.

There are many other support options including online and professional counselling options:

Parents can get non-urgent professional advice by calling the Young Minds Parent Helpline on 0808 802 5544 (Monday-Friday, 9.30am-4.00pm) or on their website using their webchat:  https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-helpline-and-webchat/

 

For urgent help but the situation is not immediately life threatening in Merton:

-For Children, Young People, Parents and Supporting Adults in Merton: we recommend the SLP NHS CAMHS crisis line for support, advice and guidance in a period of crisis or significant distress: 0203 228 5980.

-Call the 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line 0800 028 8000

-You can call NHS on 111 for urgent information and advice 24/7.

- Get an urgent on-the-day appointment with a GP by phoning your GP surgery. Remember these appointments are as much for mental health concerns as physical ones.

- If someone is already under the care of a mental health team, and a professional has given you a number to call in a crisis, call that number.

If someone’s life it at risk:

-If you are worried that someone’s life is at immediate risk, or they have already made a suicide attempt or been seriously injured: Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest Accident and Emergency

Information for professionals

See the Merton Protocol: Supporting Young People Who Self-Harm or Experience Suicidal Ideation for guidance, roles, responsibilities and professional resources. This includes key contacts and a flowchart of actions following hearing that a young person has self-harmed or is experiencing suicidal ideation.

For urgent help but the situation is not immediately life threatening in Merton:

-Supporting Adults in Merton: we recommend the SLP NHS CAMHS crisis line for support, advice and guidance in a period of crisis or significant distress: 0203 228 5980.

-Call the 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line 0800 028 8000 for advice

-You can call NHS on 111 for urgent information and advice 24/7.

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Page last reviewed: 24/03/2023

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