Introduction

Young people who self-harm may or may not be ready to stop. This section outlines steps that can be taken in either case, and points to ways of getting help and advice. It also suggests how others might support young people who harm themselves.

> Getting help
When you decide to get help, remember you're not alone. Lots of other young people who self-harm have made the same decision - and many have been helped to cope with their self-harm or to stop hurting themselves altogether.

> Getting the most out of appointments
Appointments with doctors, mental health workers, or other professionals may make you feel nervous. Here are some tips that you may find useful.

> What does confidential actually mean?
Most professionals offer confidential help, this generally means that you can tell them things in secret and they will not pass the information on to anyone else but there are exceptions.

> Local mental health services
Your GP or school nurse may refer you to a local mental health team or to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services). Here you'll be able to see professionals who can help in different ways.

> Helping yourself
This section is about helping yourself to stop self-harming, understanding why you do it and some suggestions for things you could do instead.

> If you do not feel ready to stop self-harming
Harming yourself may have become a way of dealing with your feelings that you find hard to imagine coping without. If this is how you feel, here are some ways to help you look after yourself.

> Getting medical help for injuries
If you need medical help you may not get much time to be examined in a busy Accident and Emergency department. It will help you if you can explain some things to the staff.

> How friends and families can help
It may not be easy to accept the fact that someone you care about self-harms or to understand why they do it. There are things you can do to help.