In March National Self Injury Awareness Day is held when organisations make special efforts to raise awareness about self harm and self injury.

Self harm is a way of physically expressing deep emotional distress. Many people who harm themselves keep their behaviour secret and will often try to treat injuries themselves rather than seek medical treatment or support.

There are many reasons behind self harm - childhood abuse, bullying, stress, school or work pressures, family breakdown, mental ill health or low self esteem can all have an effect. Anyone could be at risk of self harm, but research suggests that there are groups of people who are at increased risk, including:

• Young people
• Prisoners
• Asylum seekers
• Veterans
• Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people

How to help someone who is self harming:

People who self harm often don’t understand what causes them to behave in that way, and it can be difficult for friends and families to know how to support the person they care about. Self harm is not about attention seeking or manipulative behaviour. It is important not to judge the person or focus directly on the self harm, but on the pain and emotional distress that the individual is experiencing.

Where to get information and help:

Talking therapies can help people explore the feelings and problems behind their behaviour and look at safer things they can do to relieve emotional distress, to see how to access talking therapies in Kent and Medway click here.

NHS Choices offers information, film clips and links to other sites to see their information click here.

For immediate help call the Samaritans and they also offer a range of training and lesson plan resources for professionals and teachers. Tel 08457 909090, or to see their website click here.

National Self Harm Network (website and support forum). Offers support for people who self harm, their friends and families to see their website click here. They also provide an evening helpline number 0800 622 6000

Harmless offers support, training and information for people who self harm, friends, families and professional to see their website click here.

MIND information and leaflets to download for adults and young people on a range of issues related to mental health & emotional wellbeing to go to their website click here.