Self-Injury and Self Harm Awareness Day
01 March 2018
Here at Dudley Lodge, we’re very aware of how damaging mental health can be, and unfortunately for some people, it can lead to them intentionally harming themselves. This can cause the individual to feel ashamed, embarrassed and withdrawn from those around them.
Self-Injury and Self Harm Awareness Day has been around for the past 18 years and intends to acknowledge the struggle people who self-harm go through and to encourage others to reach out to those they’re worried about to offer help and support. The day is also about learning the complexities behind self-harming to give people a greater understanding of what individuals go through.
For a non-self-harmer, it can be very difficult to understand the reasons behind why people do it. We need to transform the way mental illness is viewed, self-harming is different for everyone, but often those who harm themselves describe deep and intense feelings of pain, whereby physical pain acts as a release, an escape and an external focus for the complexities going on inside their minds.
People can often understand that alcoholism is an escape, eating disorders are about control but self-harm seems to be an act people struggle to process. Ending the stigma and educating people on self-injury means those affected by it are more likely to open up about their mental health and confide in people to seek help.
Dudley Lodge works in partnership with Phoenix Psychological Services who over the years have made a huge difference to our residents who may have been struggling with their mental health.
Always speak out and seek help if you are struggling with your mental health or are self-harming and self-injuring. Someone is always there to listen and despite sufferers believing they will be judged or people will think negatively of them for self-harming this is not the case and the stigma on mental illness is being lifted more and more.
If you believe someone is self-harming it can be a very difficult subject to approach, always be cautious that people may be very defensive and dismissive about it. For advice and information about how to talk to someone who may be harming or getting them help see the websites and helplines below.
https://www.samaritans.org/
http://www.lifesigns.org.uk/
https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/your-guide-to-support/guide-to-camhs/
Mind: 0300 123 3393
Helpline: 0800 068 41 41
Samaritans: 116 123
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