Self-harm
Intentional tissue damage usually without suicidal intent.
Self-harm is intentional behavior that causes harm to oneself, most commonly regarded as direct injury of one's own tissues, usually without suicidal intention. Common forms include damaging the skin with a sharp object, scratching, hitting, or burning. Although self-harm is by definition non-suicidal, it may still be life-threatening, and people who self-harm are more likely to die by suicide.
- label
- Self-harm
- field
- Clinical psychology, psychiatry
- known_for
- Non-suicidal self-injury as a coping mechanism; association with personality disorders and trauma
- common_forms
- Cutting, scratching, hitting, burning
- age_of_onset
- Typically begins in adolescence; rare in childhood but increasing since the 1980s
Lore & Background
Self-harm is not a new phenomenon; 19th-century clinical literature and asylum records distinguished between self-harm with and without suicidal intent. Karl Menninger later coined the term 'partial suicide' and classified six types including neurotic, religious, psychotic, and conventional forms. After the 1970s, the focus shifted from Freudian psycho-sexual drives.
Reader's Guide
Self-harm is significant as a common symptom of some personality disorders and other mental disorders, though it can also occur in high-functioning individuals without an underlying diagnosis. Motivations vary, including coping with anxiety, depression, stress, emotional numbness, or a sense of failure, and it is often associated with a history of trauma. Treatment approaches target underlying causes or the behavior itself, using avoidance techniques or safer replacement methods. The inconsistent definitions of self-harm have complicated research, but nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is listed in the DSM-5-TR as a condition that may be a focus of clinical attention. Self-harm also occurs in captive animals such as birds and monkeys.
Did You Know?
- 40–60% of people who die by suicide have previously self-harmed.
- Self-harm can occur in high-functioning individuals with no underlying mental health diagnosis.
- Captive animals such as birds and monkeys are known to harm themselves.
- The DSM-5-TR includes a diagnostic code for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI).
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is Self-harm in clinical terms?
Self-harm refers to the deliberate act of injuring one's own body tissues, typically done as a way to cope with emotional distress rather than with the goal of ending one's life. It is studied within the fields of clinical psychology and psychiatry.
What are the most common ways people Self-harm?
The most frequently reported methods include cutting the skin with a sharp object, scratching, hitting oneself, or burning the skin. These behaviors are collectively categorized as non-suicidal self-injury.
At what age does Self-harm usually begin?
It most commonly emerges during adolescence, though it was historically rare in childhood. Since the 1980s, however, cases among younger populations have been on the rise.
Does Self-harm mean someone is trying to kill themselves?
No—by definition, self-harm is a non-suicidal behavior, meaning the individual does not intend to die. That said, it can still be life-threatening, and people who engage in it carry a statistically higher risk of eventually dying by suicide.
Why is Self-harm a focus in public health and epidemiology?
It is closely associated with personality disorders and a history of trauma, making it a significant marker for broader mental-health needs. Tracking its prevalence helps clinicians and public-health systems identify at-risk populations and intervene early.
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