Young people and self-harm

We spoke to Marie Armstrong, Clinical Lead for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) self-harm team, to find out about young people experiencing self-harm.

My name in Marie Armstrong, and I have been Nurse Consultant, Clinical Lead for the CAMHS self-harm team for 15 years. During that time it has been a privilege that so many young people have shared their different stories, their experiences, pain and distress but also their hopes and recoveries with me.

What is self-harm?

Self-harm includes things like cutting, burning or taking an overdose – harming yourself in any way. Self-harm can affect adults as well as young people, and lots of the advice in this blog applies to adults, too.

Why do people self-harm?

People self-harm for different reasons at different times. Sometimes it’s to try and give themselves some release, to make themselves feel better, to manage difficult emotions or to feel something when they struggle to feel anything.



In these situations it is important to try and help the person understand what has led them to feeling this way and the influence of the world they live in. Sometimes one problem can feel overwhelming, at other times there can be a build-up of problems.

It is also important to help them find other ways of coping with their distress whilst working through their difficulties.

Coping strategies

Things you can do to help yourself and others:

• Distract yourself - sometimes it’s good to keep busy, to take your mind off things
• Express yourself safely - write things down, talk, scribble on paper, punch a punch bag or pillow, scream in the shower - let it all out!
• Self-soothe – pamper yourself, relax, snuggle, chill, do beauty and health routines. Take care of yourself, you deserve it
• Mindfulness – focus on the moment, just observe, let other thoughts glide from your mind

Feeling suicidal

While some people know why they self-harm, for others, the purpose of self-harm is less clear. They may have some suicidal thoughts, and feelings of not wanting to live anymore. It’s really important to talk to someone and get the help you need if you have thoughts like these.

Your GP or another health worker – like your school nurse – can talk to you about how you are feeling and ask you some questions about the thoughts you’ve been having. It is important for them to ask these questions to understand the different situations and then to offer the right type of help.

This includes working out a plan with the young person and (in most situations) their parent/carer to help keep them safe and so they feel they have been taken seriously and that they are not alone.

Many people have suicidal thoughts, but only a few people act on them. The process of talking and listening, and helping people feel they are not on their own,  is what we know helps people to have hope that things will change.

As one young person said:

‘Suicide doesn’t stop the chance of life getting worse, it eliminates the chance of it getting better.’

Get help

If you or someone you know is struggling with self-harm, reach out and tell someone. If the first person you tell doesn’t give you the help you are wanting, tell someone else.

• Speak to a teacher you have a good relationship with or your school nurse, school mentor or counsellor
• Book to see your GP
• Talk to a parent or family member 
• Talk to a friend and if possible allow your friend to speak to an adult 
• In an emergency e.g. following an overdose always go to the Emergency Department 

You can get online and telephone support from:

• www.harmless.org.uk
• www.samaritans.org – Freephone 116 123
• www.childline.org.uk – Freephone 0800 11 11
• www.papyrus.org.uk - HOPELineUK – PAPYRUS 0870 170 4000