Its National Self Injury Awareness Day on the 1 March. If you are experiencing issues with self injury or are worried about a family member or a friend there is support and information out there.

What is Self Injury? Deliberate self-harm is a term used when someone intentionally injures or harms him or herself. We all have accidents and end up with cuts and bruises through no fault of our own - but it’s the cuts and bruises that we cause ourselves on purpose that are classified as self-harm.

It has been estimated that one in twelve young people in the UK have self-harmed at some point in their lives. There is also evidence that self-harming is affecting children at a younger age than ever before.

There are many misconceptions surrounding why young people self-harm. The reality is that:

• Self-harm is not a mental illness, nor is it an attempt to commit suicide.
• It doesn’t just affect girls. Boys self-harm too, but they are much less likely to tell anyone about it.
• We know that young people from all walks of life self-harm, regardless of their social or ethnic background.
• Self-harm is not a fashion fad, nor is it merely ‘attention seeking behaviour’.
• Most importantly, it is not easy for a young person to stop self-harming behaviour.

If you are experiencing issues with Self Harm or are worried about a family member or friend there is someone there to help you:

• Samaritans: 08457909090
• ChildLine:0800 1111
• Mental Health Matters: 0800 107 0160 (over 18)

or there is online help available through these websites:

• www.nshn.co.uk - The National Self Harm Network
• www.Samaritans.org
• www.Harmless.org
• www.youngminds.org.uk