Self-harm

Self-harm is when a child intentionally damages or hurts their body. It can become addictive because of the natural pain-relieving endorphins that are released when people hurt themselves, which can give a temporary sense of relief.

Each child’s relationship with self-harm is complex and different. It often happens during times of anger, distress, fear, anxiety, loss or depression.

It can also be a coping strategy for:

dealing with difficult situations
changing emotional pain into physical pain
communicating distress about something in a non-verbal way
attempts to relieve feelings of numbness, anger or aggression

Self-harming and risky behaviours can also be a way for a child to punish themselves for feelings or behaviour that they think are their fault, or because they have a very negative self-image.

Spotting the signs

Self-harm can include:

self-cutting
burning
scratching
biting
hair pulling
head banging

Risky behaviour

Risky behaviour can sometimes be a form of self-harm, although it is often misinterpreted or overlooked. All children will take risks and learning how to manage them is an important part of development. But when risk-taking is persistent, extreme, age inappropriate, or compromises a child’s safety and wellbeing, it can be a way of communicating distress, or highlighting that a child is struggling, or using risk-taking to lift their mood or distract/punish themselves in some way.

Risky behaviour can take many forms including:

persistently challenging behaviour
truancy
online risky behaviour such as sharing personal information, developing online (and offline) relationships with strangers; playing games rated for much older children; mixing with older peers or involvement in potentially abusive relationships
eating disorders
sexualised behaviour
taking other risks that compromise physical safety or excessive sensation seeking
taking illegal drugs or excessive amounts of alcohol
attempted suicide

Some risk-taking and sensation-seeking may be a sign of other underlying needs such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, behaviour problems or speech and communication needs.

Find out more about self-harming and risky behaviour

MindEd is a free educational e-learning resource for professionals on children and young people’s mental health. The following session aims to help staff better understand children’s self-harming behaviours.

Self-harm and risky behaviour: provides the background to self-harm in children and teenagers, common associated conditions and approaches to managing it.

Top Tips

If a child is self-harming, say something.

Doing nothing is the worst thing you can do – talking about it won’t encourage more self-harm. Although you’ll want to tell a child to stop self-harming, it can be just as useful to show concern for them in the first instance.

Listen.

It may take a few invitations to talk before a child feels able to risk sharing with you, but the most important thing you can do is listen.

Talk.

When the child is ready, make a plan and discuss and agree it with them. This might include setting aside another time to listen. Action what you’ve agreed and keep the child informed; explain if you don’t manage to do something.

What schools can do

Thoughts can really influence and affect our emotions and moods. However, many children may not be aware when this is happening to them. Some will become overwhelmed by thoughts and emotions.

A number of universal and targeted school-based programmes and resources can prevent children being overwhelmed by thoughts and emotions helping them learn effective coping skills to express their feelings, develop coping skills and manage life’s ups and downs. These programmes also help children connect with, label and express emotions in a healthy way which is an important protective factor.

Positive relationships in the classroom/school that are built on trust, safety and security promote pupil wellbeing and help children feeling overwhelmed by thoughts or emotions – encouraging them to open up and talk.

Some children will also need a little extra help either through school pastoral/counselling support, through discussion with your school nurse or through referral to community-based support.

Concerned about a child?

If you are worried that a child is at risk involve your designated safeguarding lead as a matter of priority who will contact the parents/carers and other services as necessary. If the child is at immediate risk, ensure that they are taken to their GP or A&E as a matter of urgency, depending on the severity of the concern.

Find out more