How children and young people self-harm

Self-harm might be an attempt by an individual to end their life, but the majority of the acts of self-harm are not intended to be suicidal.

• In teenagers, self-injury is twice as common as self-poisoning
• Cutting is by far the most common means of self-injury. This can be done with a knife, razor blade or any other sharp object that can scrape or penetrate the skin. Less common methods include burning and stabbing oneself
• A small additional percentage will have intentionally taken a dangerously large amount of an illicit drug or have poisoned themselves with some other substance.