March 1st is Self-Injury Awareness Day in the UK. This is a severe symptom of poor mental health very few talk about. It’s an area which is very misunderstood and highly stigmatised; the latter can therefore make seeking help all that harder for the person.
The tragedy is, the often-cited reason for harming oneself is because the emotional pain is so great that physical self-harm can provide a sense of relief momentarily. It’s much like a person turning to alcohol or drugs in an attempt to numb the pain or disappear from reality for a while. Conversely, some people experience such numbness in severe depression that self-harm can feel like an attempt to bring oneself back to a feeling of ‘human-ness’.
A few other reasons for self-harm include, but are certainly not limited to:
Trying to feel in control
Self-punishment
A cry for help
Intrusive thoughts
Self-harm is usually done by cutting or purposefully injuring oneself, but this can extend to alcohol abuse, drug abuse, and even using food as a means of soothing emotional pain.
It is beyond the scope of my practice to counsel my clients with severe mental illness or with someone in severe mental distress. I can, however, detail a few incredible resources which have helped many people I know with all kinds of mental health conditions.
The Samaritans are an incredible charity that operate throughout the UK, 24 hours a day, every day. Connecting with a stranger who doesn’t know you can cut through that noise and those intrusive thoughts. They are 100% impartial. I have had the pleasure of speaking to several Samaritans volunteers over the years. They are very passionate about what they do and they truly want to help. It’s completely free to call them and all calls are anonymous. Please don’t ever hesitate to call them Tel: 116 123
The British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) is a nationwide directory of qualified counsellors. Yes, this service is private, and you would need to pay for it, but it’s not as expensive as you may think for private counselling; it depends on the counsellor as they set their rates. I often get asked where to begin a search for a local therapist and this directory is the best I’ve found. https://www.bacp.co.uk/
Mind charity in the UK is also a vital resource for people. For urgent help you can contact them via telephone 0300 123 3393 or their website https://www.mind.org.uk/ They can advise you on where to get help and what steps to take next.
Lastly, contact your GP practice and get into the system. Admittedly the waiting times are very poor these days and the last three years have not helped matters at all. From my own experience it pays to be upfront and honest with the GP receptionists when you call. Tell them exactly why you need to see the GP and get them onside if you can. They shouldn’t play ‘gate-keeper’ to doctors but they often do and access to GPs is getting worse. Once in the NHS system you should be given access to a local Crisis Team and offered talking therapies; often 6 free sessions with a counsellor.
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