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Self Harm – Non-Suicidal Self Injury (NSSI)

Wendy Bennett
Aug 5, 2015
3 min read

This is a very personal topic for me. Self harm, Non-Suicidal Self Injury, NSSI or whatever you want to call it is something that I have personally been affected by. Not only through people I know self harming but at my very darkest I self harmed too. It is an addiction; it is a way of expressing an inexpressible inner pain. Although it has been many years since I have self harmed, the thought is pretty much always with you, kind of like after you quit smoking – there is always that craving, not matter how many years have passed since your last cigarette.

Believe me I have hummed and hawed about whether to talk about this subject, whether or not I should share my experience. Writing this blog has bought back lots of memories and I have shed many tears. Not just for myself and my journey but for those out there who are suffering in silence, who think they don’t matter, who think no one will notice if they no longer exist.

The reason I decided to go ahead and share was that I felt that if I wasn't willing to be open and honest and share, how can I expect others to reach out and ask for help? If people are not willing to share their experiences and thoughts in this matter then there will continue to be stigma, taboo’s, myths and misunderstandings.

Self harm is often dismissed as something teenage girls do to get their parents attention or it is thought that self harm is a precursor to suicide. Believe me, it is NOT attention seeking, it is NOT restricted to teenage girls, but it IS an indication that someone is struggling. While there is a link between self injury and suicide not all people who self harm want to die.

Another myth associated with self injury is that it always involves a razor blade. Some people who self injure do so in a way that does not leave a scar. Some people pick at their skin, pinch themselves or use poisons. In 2010-11 hospitalisations as a result of intentional self-harm were highest, for both males and females, in the category of poisons at 80.6%, followed by sharp objects at 13%. These figures are of course only as good as the record keeping system. The question is how many other people are self-harming that never go to hospital, that are never recorded in the system?

Unless someone comes to you and tells you they are self harming it is almost impossible to spot it. Due to the shame and stigma associated with this behaviour it is often kept secret. That is why I believe that the more people acknowledge it openly and honestly, the easier it will be for others who suffer to come forward. If someone does open up to you there are things you can do to help:

Talk calmly
Speak in a non-judgement manner
Encourage them to see a Dr or other health care professional
Support them by offering options or offering to work with them
Don’t tell them what to do
Call 000 if you think the person is at risk of serious injury

You cannot stop someone from self harming, nor is it your responsibility when they do. Being present, supportive and non-judgemental may seem obvious or insignificant to you but it can mean a world of difference to the person you are supporting.

If you are suffering in anyway, mentally or physically, please do not feel as though you are alone. Please reach out for help. Doctors, Psychologists, Counsellors – are all trained professionals and are there to help.

Wendy