by Holly Rogers

Created on: March 25, 2009   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

Self injury, also known as self harm or self mutilation, has become increasinly common amongst our youth, extending beyond teenage years, often starting in the pre-teen stages for many individuals. Self-harm includes, but is not limited to, slashing, stabbing, burning, excessive hair pulling, consumption of poison and any other behaviour that may cause intentional harm to an individual at their own hand. It may even be extended to include those individuals who intentionally consume food they know to be beyond the used by date, or starvation, such as that experienced by individuals with eating disorders. However, the most common form of self-harm is the slashing of skin, most often on the arm, leg, or stomach region.

With self injury becoming an increasingly common experience amoung young people, it is important everyone has some degree of understanding of why an individual acts in such a manner. Many people believe this type of behaviour is nothing more than attention seeking. Others believe it to be a failed attempt at suicide. However, self-harming behaviour comes in various degrees, that may include both of those possibilities, or neither. One thing that is definite is that self injury is dangerous and requires professional assistance.

For some individuals who self harm, the reason may be the result of a mental illness. Self harm is common amoungst inpatients in mental health facilities, as well as mental health clients living within the community. Often it is the result of a lack of coping with mental health symptoms, non-compliance with medication, or having never been diagnosed as having a mental health condition at all. Even for those individuals who do not have any obvious mental health indicators, it is highly likely they are suffering from a form of depression, or personality disorder, of which they may be unaware of.

Individuals with schizophrenia or drug induced psychosis are known for their high rate of self injury behaviour. The reason usually relates to the experience of psychotic symptoms. If an individual is actively psychotic, they may be experiencing command auditory hallucinations, which are voices commanding them to act. These often involve commands to self harm or harm others and if an individual does not receive appropriate help, they may lack the insight to understand how to ignore such commands. Or perhaps their ongoing experience of psychotic symptoms has reached a point where they cannot function successfully within the community, and

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