Why do young people self-harm?

The most common reason why young people self-harm is to manage strong, negative emotions.

It can provide them with an immediate tension release (e.g. when someone is extremely anxious and agitated), but it also can provide an opportunity for the young person to seek care from others.

A young person may use self-harm to regain or maintain control over their emotions or problems.

It could be problems that they don’t have control of, such as problems at home.

Some young people may use sharp physical pain to distract themselves from the unbearable emotional pain they are experiencing.

For some people, physical pain can be more bearable than the emotional pain they are experiencing.

They may not see an alternative way to cope with their emotional distress, so they resort to the only thing they feel works.

Young people may self-harm to fit in socially with peers who also self-harm. Self-harm signals their belonging to the group, or strengthens their social position within the group.

Sometimes young people self-harm when they feel numb or disconnected from themselves.

Intense pain is very tangible and helps them feel something again.

Young people may self-harm to punish themselves for doing or feeling something they feel ashamed of, or for not resisting certain urges.

Sometimes when young people feel neglected or rejected, self-harm can be a way of communicating their distress to others. It can also be a way of asking for care and support.

Young people may self-harm as a means of managing their own suicide risk.

They may use self-harm as a prevention strategy for suicide and rely on it for this reason.