The Scottish Association for Mental Health SAMH has published the results of an on-line survey which was created to find out more about people’s first-hand experiences of self-harm. The survey received 227 responses with people giving honest and frank accounts of self-harm and the support they received.

The survey showed that 58% of respondents never received medical attention for their injuries while the experiences of those who had received treatment varied greatly. Another key finding of the survey was that only 8% of those who took part said that they self-harm in order to get care.

The survey shows that reasons for self-harming vary from coping with pressure, feeling a release or calming down. The research also shows that self-harm can take many forms, from cutting and burning to harmful drinking and disordered eating.

The report is available to download from the SAMH website.