...... Are you Worried?

i never knew how my actions effected others until i needed someone. it took years of self harming, a suicide attempt and a several trips to hospital before i relaised how my actions effected the people around me. without realising it, i hurt so many people just by hurting myself. but i am not here to give you a lecture, i am here to tell you there are things you can do if you are worried about someone who may be self harming.

What to do in an Emergency?
If someone has harmed themselves intentionally, it is important to get medical help. If the person is hurt badly call an ambulance (dial 000, if you live in Australia) straight away.
You may want to support your friend by going with them to the hospital. This may help to reassure them. At the hospital, after the person has been physically checked, they will usually be assessed by a mental health professional. In big hospitals, this person will probably be a psychiatrist.

When do i tell someone else?
If you are concerned about your friend's safety, it is important to let someone like a counsellor, teacher or youth worker know what is going on. These people should be able to help you make sure your friend stays safe.
If possible, it is a good idea to be honest with your friend, letting them know that you will have to let someone know if they tell you that they are harming themselves. If your friend chooses not to tell you things on that basis then that is their call. This way you are not being put in a situation where you feel like you are breaking their trust or risking them harm.

How you can help......
Supporting a friend who is self harming may be hard. Often the reasons why someone self-harms are complex and managing these reasons needs help from someone like a psychologist, psychiatrist or a counsellor. You may want to check out the Finding Help section for more information about how these people can help. The Help Near You database or your local phone book should have details of these services in your local area.

Kids Help Line 1800 55 1800 (free call) or Lifeline 131 114 (cost of a local call) have also counsellors who are around 24 hours.