By THE COUNSELING CENTER
March is Self-Harm Awareness Month. According to the Mental Health Foundation “any behavior that causes harm or injury to someone as a way to deal with overwhelming, distressing or difficult thoughts and feelings can be seen as self-harm.”
Self-harm is something that can affect anyone. According to The Recovery Village, 15 percent of college students have harmed themselves at least once. Young females are the group most likely to self-harm, and research shows that there has been a 50 percent increase of this behavior in this population since 2009. Males represent between 35 and 40 percent of all people who self-harm, though they are less likely to seek help.
Below is a list of self-harm behaviors. If that may be distressing for you to read, skip to the next paragraph. Self-harm does not always present in the ways we may directly think. Self-harming behaviors can include, but are not limited to: cutting, hair-pulling, burning oneself, skin picking, hitting, punching, head-banging, excessive piercing or tattooing, drinking harmful chemicals, lip biting or pulling, scratching until skin burns, staying up too late, and many other behaviors.
There are many reasons why individuals engage in self-harming behaviors. Here are some potential reasons why an individual may engage in self-harm.
Distract themselves from other things going on in their lives that may be causing them to experience overwhelming thoughts or emotions
Release tension that strong thoughts or emotions are provoking
Help them feel something physical when they feel numb
Express themselves or communicate strong feelings
Punish themselves
Experience a temporary sense of relief
Individuals that are struggling with self-harming behaviors should reach out for help from a mental health professional. If you have a friend or loved one that is engaging in self-harm, here are some ways you can help them:
Find a quiet place to talk
Understand that they are not just doing this to get attention
Stay calm and listen non-judgmentally
Don’t force them to stop or threaten to tell others
Always call 911 if someone needs immediate help
If you or someone you love are engaging in self-harming behaviors it is important to reach out for help! Some individuals may be ashamed to talk about their self-harm behaviors, but it is important to address these concerns. At the Counseling Center, we are here to help you! We are all in this together!
If you became distressed after reading this and you need help right away, here are some 24/7 resources:
Text HOME to 741-741 for Crisis Text Line (not run by Saint Rose)
Outside of operating hours, Saint Rose students can call Security at 518-454-5187 and ask to speak with the on-call counselor.
For more information and help, please reach out to the Counseling Center. The Counseling Center is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. 5 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. We are located on the third floor of Saint Joseph’s Hall at 985 Madison Ave. Appointments are now being held virtually. You can call the center at 518-454-5200 to make an appointment.
