Suicide and self harm

As a result of changes in behaviour, mood, thoughts, and through the experience of sometimes extremely distressing symptoms; people with a severe mental illness are at an increased risk of self harming, or committing suicide.

If you are thinking or engaging in self harm, or have thoughts about suicide; or whether you are the friend or relative of someone you suspect is at risk, being aware of the early signs and indications may help avoid later harm or even death.

Self harm
 is a deliberate act by an individual who intends to harm themselves in some way. There are many ways in which people self harm. Among the most commons ways are:

  • Cutting
  • burning
  • causing physical harm by banging against something or hitting
  • scratching
  • poisoning (including alcohol and drugs).

Taking drugs to self-harm is different to taking drugs for pleasure. A person who self harms takes drugs to deliberately cause harm to themselves.

Suicide
is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and is an important public health problem. The World Health Organisation reports that suicide is the fourth leading cause of death and sixth leading cause of ill health and disability among those aged 15-44 years of age (World Health Organisation, 2000).

Self harm and risk of suicide

Self harm is a direct and deliberate physically damaging form of bodily harm which is intentionally not life-threatening, often repetitive in nature and usually socially unacceptable.

It is generally agreed that the self injurer does not intend to die as a result of his/her acts.

Self harm, however, is a risk factor in subsequent attempted suicide. Patients who deliberately harm themselves have a risk of suicide some 100 times greater than that of the general population.

20-25% of people who die by suicide have presented to a general hospital after episodes of self harm in the year before death.

National Advice Service factsheets

The National Advice Service produces factsheets on issues related to mental illness. You may find the below information useful:

Self harm factsheet

Suicide prevention factsheet

Suicide - read this first factsheet