Self-harm remains heavily stigmatized worldwide. Many individuals report feeling dismissed by medical professionals as a “waste of time” or labeled “attention-seeking” by their peers. The fear of judgment from professionals is a significant barrier that prevents those struggling with self-harm from seeking proper help. Additionally, some individuals inevitably internalize this stigma, leading to self-hatred and shame. In short, those who self-harm face not only societal stigma but also self-stigma and stigma within medical settings. However, recovery is still possible; below is a list of advice on coping with stigma.
Seek support from others struggling with self-harm.
There are many support groups online and in real life that offer the opportunity to talk to someone who is struggling with similar issues. There are also many forums online that you can contribute to with ease, communicate with others, and/or share advice. Having a safe space to talk about self-harming without judgement is important to overcome stigma and understand the importance of seeking help. Below are English-speaking self-harm forums that offer support and advice:
- Battle-scars UK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/182423148780739/
- 7cups: https://www.7cups.com/forum/selfharm/
- ReachOut Australia: https://forums.au.reachout.com/?sort=Top&filter=everything
- Headspace Australia: https://headspace.org.au/online-and-phone-support/join-the-community/
Understand that your struggles don’t define your self-worth.
It’s important to know that you are more than just a “self-harmer” or an “attention-seeker”. Just because you are struggling or have struggled with self-harm, this does not mean that self-harming dictates your entire identity as a person.
You deserve help, even if someone has it “worse”.
Understand that mental health struggles are relative; a person who self-harmed once doesn’t suffer less than a person who self-harmed more. We often hear notions like “Someone else out there has it worse than you, so be grateful,” but suffering is subjective – therefore, it doesn’t determine who needs more or less help. Everyone is entitled to seeking and receiving help, no matter how seemingly trivial their struggle is, including you.
Know that stigma comes from a lack of understanding.
Hearing statements like, “You’re not recovering because you’re not trying hard enough,” is incredibly difficult, especially when it comes from a medical professional who should know better. Unfortunately, many healthcare providers lack adequate education on common mental health issues, including self-harm. Recognizing that some professionals may be less informed than you on this issue can help reduce self-stigma and encourage you to seek better, more understanding treatment.
Be open and communicative to someone you trust.
Not everyone will be understanding or willing to listen to your struggles. Identify the people you feel comfortable confiding in and share your experiences with them. Educating them about self-harm not only helps reduce public stigma but also enables them to better support you
