Understanding self-harm

Here at SpunOut.ie, we want to start conversations, and make it more normalised to talk about self harm and mental health. The reasons why a person may self harm are complex, but for some it can be a way of coping when things are very difficult and overwhelming.

The more we encourage one another to listen and learn from each other’s experiences of self harm, the more we can create an environment where support for self harm is easily accessed, without shame or stigma. Our information on self harm offers support and advice to those who may be self harming, as well as those who are supporting someone who self harms with non-judgemental advice, opinion pieces and signposts to supports and services. Self harm is not a choice, and self harm is not something that needs to be hidden.

Self harm content on SpunOut.ie

Understanding self harm

• What is self harm?
• Myths about self harm
• Why do people self harm
  

Supporting someone who self harms

• How to help a friend who self harms
• What to do if your partner self harms
• How to help a family member who is self harming
• What to say to someone who self harms
  

Support for self harm

• Practical help for self harm
• What to do if you are considering self harm
• Living with your self harm scars
• How to get support for self harm
• What to do in a self harm emergency
• How to tell someone you self harm
• What happens when you attend A&E for self harm
• How to deal with urges to self harm
• Dealing with difficult emotions
• How to open up to someone about your mental health

Personal experiences of self harm

• Positive ways I found to reduce self harm
• How talking with friends or family helps with self harm
• My personal experience of self harm
• How my friends helped me when I was self harming
• Why it’s important to reduce the stigma around self harm

Feeling overwhelmed and want to talk to someone?

• Get anonymous support 24/7 with our text message support service
• Connect with a trained volunteer who will listen to you, and help you to move forward feeling better
• Whatsapp us now or free-text SPUNOUT to 50808 to begin.
• Find out more about our text message support service

If you are a customer of the 48 or An Post network or cannot get through using the ‘50808’ short code please text HELLO to 086 1800 280 (standard message rates may apply). Some smaller networks do not support short codes like ‘50808’.