Self-Harm

Self-harm and suicidal thoughts deserve care in their own right. Understanding distress, intention and the effects of substances helps explain why physical safety and psychological support both matter.

Self-harm means deliberately injuring or poisoning oneself. It does not always involve wanting to die, but the absence of that intention does not make it harmless. Suicidal thoughts can also occur without an act of self-harm. These experiences need to be understood separately while taking both seriously.

Alcohol or other drug use can complicate distress, judgement and care. A person's safety does not depend on first deciding whether the cause is depression, intoxication, withdrawal or something else. Deliberate self-poisoning needs attention to physical danger and to the circumstances and distress behind it.

If you may act on suicidal thoughts, cannot keep yourself safe, or have seriously injured yourself, contact emergency medical help in your area now. Possible self-poisoning needs immediate medical help, even if you feel well. If you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm without immediate danger, contact a health professional or local mental-health crisis service promptly. You do not have to wait for an injury or a diagnosis to ask for help.

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