Different Self-inflicted Injury
A self-inflicted injury occurs when someone purposely hurts themselves.
• Self-inflicted injury is also called self-injury, self-abuse, self-mutilation, deliberate self-harm, para-suicidal behavior, and non-suicidal self-injury.
• Self- inflicted injuries most often occur on the arms, legs and front of the body because they are easier to reach and hide under clothing. However, the injuries could affect any part of the body.
How will you recognize a person who has suicidal tendencies?
Any of the following methods could be used:
• Biting
• Bone breaking
• Burning
• Carving words or symbols into the skin
• Cutting (making cuts or scratches on the skin with sharp objects such as knives, needles, razor blades,
scissors, pins, fingernails, etc.)
• Hair-pulling
• Hitting or punching (with a hammer or other object)
• Hitting his/her head (head banging)
• Piercing the skin using sharp objects
• Picking at skin or reopening wounds so they cannot heal
• Pinching
• Poisoning (or drinking harmful chemicals)
• Taking an overdose of drugs
What medical problems can result from self-inflicted injury?
Children who injure themselves do not usually intend to cause lasting injury. However, self-inflicted injury may cause serious medical problems, including:
• Life-threatening blood loss
• Deep cuts needing stitches
• Infections from wounds or dirty cutting objects
• Increased feelings of shame, guilt and low self-esteem
• Unintended suicide (Self-inflicted injury is usually not suicidal behavior; however, it may result in death.)
• Higher risk of attempted suicide (Most people who injure themselves are not trying to die by suicide.
However, the emotional problems and pain that lead to self-inflicted injury may lead to attempted suicide.)
• Repeated self-inflicted injury (Self-inflicted injury can become a compulsive behavior. This means that the more a person does it, the more he/she feels the need to keep doing it.)
• Self-inflicted injury is also called self-injury, self-abuse, self-mutilation, deliberate self-harm, para-suicidal behavior, and non-suicidal self-injury.
• Self- inflicted injuries most often occur on the arms, legs and front of the body because they are easier to reach and hide under clothing. However, the injuries could affect any part of the body.
Sexual Abuse
Suicide and Para-suicide
Suicide is the intentional taking of one’s own life. Many of those who attempt suicide do not receive mental and emotional counseling because their families try to hide the problem because they are ashamed of it.
Because of this, the problem is not solved and the attempt to commit suicide happens again. Studies also indicate that other family members are also at risk of committing suicide.
On the other hand, a suicide attempt in which a person does not intend to die is called para-suicide. It
is often a cry for help meaning, the person wants others to know what s/he is feeling. Despite this,
para-suicide should be taken seriously because it may also lead to death.
Suicide is the intentional taking of one’s own life. Many of those who attempt suicide do not receive mental and emotional counseling because their families try to hide the problem because they are ashamed of it.
Because of this, the problem is not solved and the attempt to commit suicide happens again. Studies also indicate that other family members are also at risk of committing suicide.
On the other hand, a suicide attempt in which a person does not intend to die is called para-suicide. It
is often a cry for help meaning, the person wants others to know what s/he is feeling. Despite this,
para-suicide should be taken seriously because it may also lead to death.
How will you recognize a person who has suicidal tendencies?
Oftentimes, the person gives clues through his/her behavior and speech. Some of these clues may be:
talking about suicide or death writing farewell letters or giving away valuable things to their friends and siblings showing changes in behavior, moods and feelings
Who is most likely to engage in self-inflicted injury?
Most people who injure themselves are teenagers. People who injure themselves usually start this behavior in their young teens. Self-inflicted injury usually occurs numerous times, rather than just once. How could someone injure themselves?
talking about suicide or death writing farewell letters or giving away valuable things to their friends and siblings showing changes in behavior, moods and feelings
Who is most likely to engage in self-inflicted injury?
Most people who injure themselves are teenagers. People who injure themselves usually start this behavior in their young teens. Self-inflicted injury usually occurs numerous times, rather than just once. How could someone injure themselves?
Any of the following methods could be used:
• Biting
• Bone breaking
• Burning
• Carving words or symbols into the skin
• Cutting (making cuts or scratches on the skin with sharp objects such as knives, needles, razor blades,
scissors, pins, fingernails, etc.)
• Hair-pulling
• Hitting or punching (with a hammer or other object)
• Hitting his/her head (head banging)
• Piercing the skin using sharp objects
• Picking at skin or reopening wounds so they cannot heal
• Pinching
• Poisoning (or drinking harmful chemicals)
• Taking an overdose of drugs
What medical problems can result from self-inflicted injury?
Children who injure themselves do not usually intend to cause lasting injury. However, self-inflicted injury may cause serious medical problems, including:
• Life-threatening blood loss
• Deep cuts needing stitches
• Infections from wounds or dirty cutting objects
• Increased feelings of shame, guilt and low self-esteem
• Unintended suicide (Self-inflicted injury is usually not suicidal behavior; however, it may result in death.)
• Higher risk of attempted suicide (Most people who injure themselves are not trying to die by suicide.
However, the emotional problems and pain that lead to self-inflicted injury may lead to attempted suicide.)
• Repeated self-inflicted injury (Self-inflicted injury can become a compulsive behavior. This means that the more a person does it, the more he/she feels the need to keep doing it.)
