Self-injury or self-harming is when a person deliberately hurts themselves physically to
deal with the emotional pain they are suffering.
This may be cutting, burning, head banging, pulling out your own hair etc.
This mechanism can provide people with a sensation that ‘breaks feelings of numbness’. This emotional pain is caused by issues such as low-self esteem, trauma, perfectionism and abuse.
A person can go on suffering like this while telling no-one and feeling unable to break the cycle.
The Student Wellbeing team here at Hallam provide services including face-face and email counselling, self-help resources, tips and workshops. Search ‘Student Wellbeing’ on SHUspace for information.
If your studies are being affected as a result of a health condition or anything else there is free, confidential & impartial advice and support offered by the student advisors in the Advice & Information team here at Hallam.
More information can be found here.
So how can you help and raise awareness?
Visit the Self Injury Awareness Day website on how to promote the day and wear a yellow and purple bracelet to show your support.
Would you like more information?
Downloadable booklets on self-harming:-
http://www.barnardos.org.uk/about-selfharm/publication-view.jsp?pid=PUB-1301