Overview

Self-harm is primarily a way to cope with feelings that are so distressing that no alternatives are thought to be helpful.

The term ‘attention seeking’ is often used negatively in relation to self-harm. The implication is that the individual self-harms just to get attention, but it is important to understand that this is rarely the main motivation. Young people say that self-harm works for them in the following ways:

• Comfort: Self-harm may be experienced as soothing and comforting by some young people; this may come about from the release of tension, but also by providing an opportunity to seek care and nurture from others. This is particularly important for children/young people with poor self-regulation skills.
• Communication: Self-harm is primarily a means of regulating feelings rather gaining a response from others; however, self-injury may also be a means of communicating distress without using words.
• Control: Some children/young people explain that they feel the need for control in their lives (which are often characterised by a sense of lack of control). Self-harm can be seen in terms of gaining control – by controlling injuries to their own body. Determining the nature, site, timing and severity of harm to the body is a way of staking claim to one’s own body.
• Distraction: Self-harm can provide distraction from the internal emotional pain, which may feel unbearable.
• Feeling alive or real: Sometimes children/young people’s real life experiences leave them feeling numb or unreal. Hurting one’s body may be experienced as a way of breaking through these feelings, and experiencing something that makes them feel alive and real again.
• Relief of feelings: By hurting themselves, children/young people report they are able to release feelings that feel unbearable when held inside.
• Self-punishing: Some children/young people carry feelings of shame, low self-esteem, self-blame –when these feeling become hard to bear some young people harm themselves as a way of punishing themselves. This process may operate unconsciously.

‘Everyone has a way of coping. Some use self-harm, others use alcohol’ (young person in Hampshire).

‘Self-harm experience is unique to each individual. I did it to cope with anger, being out of control’ (young person in Hampshire).

Self-harm can be a risk factor for suicide. However, it is important to stress that most of those who engage in self-harm will not attempt suicide. Conversations which are supportive and empathetic are essential to help children and young people and their parents/carers understand the reasons for self-harm and ways it can be managed.

It is estimated that 8.4% of children/young people aged 5-16 years old in Hampshire will have a clinically diagnosed mental disorder.

Data published by Public Health England indicate hospital admission rates for self-harm in Hampshire for 10-14 year olds and 15-19 year olds are higher than England rates.

The Hampshire Health and Wellbeing Survey carried out between November 2021 and January 2022 found that:

• 78% of primary pupils, and 67% of secondary pupils said they are happy all or most of the time. Fewer secondary pupils said they were happy compared to 2019/20.
• 80% of primary and 61% of secondary pupils would tell an adult they trust if they were worried about a friend.
• 52% of secondary school pupils said they ‘worry a lot’ all or most of the time, and 55% said they ‘sleep well’ all or most of the time. Both outcomes are worse for secondary pupils compared to 2019/20.
• In primary, 32% of pupils said they ‘worry a lot’ all or most of the time, and 58% said they ‘sleep well’ all or most of the time. Levels of worry are slightly higher amongst primary pupils compared to 2019/20.