Self Harm
It can be a very worrying time for you as a parent when you suspect that your child or teenager is harming themselves. Self-harm means harming yourself as a way of dealing with emotional distress. Sometimes distressing problems may feel like they will never go away. It can seem that things will never get better. This can be a lonely place to be. Some people use self-harm as a way to try to escape from or deal with pain or stress that they find difficult to tolerate in their lives.
If self-harm is something you use as a way of dealing with emotional pain, there is support available to help you find other ways of coping.
If you have a child who you suspect has self-harmed or you believe they are thinking of self-harming, you can get help from:
- General Practitioner (GP)
Find a local family doctor (GP) or health centre by visiting the If it's late in the evening, night time or the weekend, contact a . G.P.s are also listed under ‘General Practitioners’ in the Golden Pages. Find out how a G.P. can .
- Hospital services
Go to or contact the Emergency Department of your nearest general hospital if you have a child or teenager who has self harmed and needs medical attention. Hospitals are listed on the . You can also contact the emergency services by calling 999 or 112.
- HSE Mental health services
If your child or teenager has been (or is currently) supported by a mental health team, go to the Emergency Department or contact the service you are attending and ask for an appointment as soon as possible.
- Counselling
offer support and counselling. A G.P. can recommend counselling services in your area. These might include free, low cost or private options.
- Listening service
is a resource for parents who are experiencing difficulties, contact them on LoCall 1890 927277 or 01 8733500.
Samaritans is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone struggling to cope. For confidential, non-judgemental support please free call 116 123 in the Republic of Ireland or 08457 90 90 90 in Northern Ireland, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit for details of the nearest branch.