Self-harm is far more common than women realise, but it isn't talked about. Secrecy is the big enemy. We hope that this chapter will help women who use self-harm to understand more about their problems, to reduce or stop their self-harm and start their path to recovery, by ‘talking not harming’ and allowing themselves to feel supported by others.

What is self-harm?

Self-harm is when someone knowingly harms or injures themselves (Box 26.1). Some self-harm can cause immediate damage, other behaviours may be harmful in the longer term. Some people prefer the term self-injury. Other terms include deliberate self-harm or self-mutilation, but we urge people to stop using these terms – they are unhelpful, negative and contribute to stigma and judgemental attitudes. Words can make the pain worse and may delay the start of the healing and recovery process. Negative language can also discourage women from telling someone about their self-harm.

How common is self-harm?

Self-harm is an important health issue. It is more common in the UK than the rest of Europe. In the UK, approximately 6.5–8% of adolescents self-harm. This number drops to 4% in the adult population. Every year there are over 220 000 attendances at hospital due to self-harm. The highest rates of self-harm are among young Black and South Asian women (Cooper et al, 2010).