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Where to get help<br />
If you are affected by self-harm,<br />
here are some ways you get<br />
support or information<br />
Phone and text lines<br />
• Samaritans: 116 123 or<br />
jo@samaritans.org<br />
• Shout crisis text line: Text<br />
“SHOUT” to 85258 or<br />
“YM” if you’re under 19<br />
• Childline: 0800 1111<br />
(under 19s).<br />
• YoungMinds parents helpline:<br />
0808 802 5544<br />
• Mind: 0300 123 3393<br />
Webchat services<br />
• Self Injury Support webchat<br />
(for women) is open Tuesday,<br />
and Thursday from 7pm to<br />
9.30pm<br />
• CALM webchat (for men) is<br />
open from 5pm to midnight<br />
every day<br />
3. It’s just a phase<br />
Some people’s experience of<br />
self-harm can be more isolated,<br />
related to a specific situation, and<br />
may stop once that has resolved.<br />
Others may self-harm as a<br />
long-term coping mechanism.<br />
Similar to how some people<br />
crave cigarettes or alcohol in<br />
times of great stress, others may<br />
find an emotional release from<br />
self-harm, which could become<br />
habitual, or even addictive.<br />
“When I was younger, I was<br />
genuinely addicted to it and would<br />
self-harm every day at some<br />
points,” says Emily. “I didn’t know<br />
how else to deal with emotions.”<br />
4. Only teenagers self-harm<br />
Ivy*, 30, who has struggled with<br />
severe depression throughout<br />
her life, says: “One of the biggest<br />
myths around self-harm is that<br />
it’s just teenagers and young<br />
adults who do it. A lot of selfharmers<br />
carry on much further<br />
into adulthood.”<br />
A culmination of the emotional,<br />
hormonal, and physical changes<br />
in teenage years can mean that<br />
this age group is more likely to<br />
become overwhelmed and use<br />
self-harm as a way of coping,<br />
especially if there are other<br />
difficulties going on in their lives.<br />
But self-harm can begin or stop<br />
at any age. Claire*, 28, shared<br />
her experiences of her daughter<br />
Anna* with me.<br />
“When Anna was only three<br />
years old, she began hitting<br />
herself on the head when she<br />
became overwhelmed. I was<br />
56 | September <strong>2021</strong> | <strong>happiful</strong>.com