Content warning: this article discusses sensitive material, including self-injury and suicide.
Self-Injury Awareness Day, abbreviated as SIAD, and also known as Self-Harm Awareness Day, is an event that falls annually on March 1. It is a day to not only spread awareness but also an understanding of self-injury, which is frequently misunderstood and misrepresented in today’s society. When most people think of self-injury, they probably think of cutting or slit wrists; however, self-injury isn’t limited to just cutting. Biting, burning, scratching, bruising and hitting oneself is also considered external forms of self-injury, as well as internal forms, such as purposely overdosing on drugs or alcohol, frequent amounts of sexual activity or intentionally putting oneself in danger or dangerous places/situations.
According to trends in emergency room visits, there’s been a 50% increase in reported self-injury among young females since the year 2009! SIAD was created to break the stigma, shame and common stereotypes surrounding self-injury and to educate people about the condition.
- How Is SIAD Celebrated?
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On the day of, and even throughout the entire month of March, many people choose to open up about their own experiences of self-injury. Many awareness organizations — such as LifeSIGNS and the Self-Injury Foundation, among a handful of others — make special efforts to raise awareness about self-injury. You may also see some people standing in solidarity with the cause by wearing an orange ribbon, drawing a butterfly on their wrists or writing the word “LOVE” on their arms to encourage awareness.
- Why Do People Self-Harm?
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There are many reasons why one may self-harm. While self-injury isn’t necessarily a warning sign for suicide, it can be a sign of serious trauma. One may self-harm in attempts to numb the pain that they are feeling, to regain or promote a sense of control, to feel a release or to relieve tension. Self-harmers are often left feeling alone and are afraid to reach out for help in fear of being seen as “psycho.”
- What Do I Do If I am Thinking About Self-Harming?
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The first thing you should do if the urge hits is leave the room. Just get up and leave the room. Or at least get rid of whatever it is you were going to self-harm with. Dispose of it or get it completely out of your possession until the urge passes. One of the most common alternatives to self-harm is to wear a rubber band around your wrist and snap it whenever you feel like harming yourself. Another important thing to do is to control your breathing with slow, deep breaths. The Calm app is a really popular app in helping with this and can be downloaded on Google Play and on the App Store. Some other alternatives to self-harm include going for a walk, texting a friend or loved one, taking a hot bath or shower, drawing on oneself, ripping up newspapers or cardboard or rubbing ice on the part of the body where you typically self-harm. The coping method depends on the person; not all methods work the same way for everybody and that’s okay, so long as you find something that does work for you.
- What Do I Do If I Know Someone Else is Self-Harming?
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The most important thing to do is to take it seriously, but don’t make the survivor feel embarrassed or ashamed about it. One of the hardest things that the author, a self-injury survivor, had to endure in high school was being treated differently by close friends because of what was on their arms, thighs, etc. They’re still your friend or your loved one. Odds are, they’re probably dealing with a lot of trauma either in person, or in their head, or maybe both. The best, and potentially the only thing you can do for somebody who is self-harming is to reach out to them. Ask them how they’re doing — what’s going on? Tell them that you care about them and let them know you’ve noticed signs of self-harm. They won’t necessarily be receptive, but either way, you’ve made a positive step in their recovery process just by communicating that you’ve noticed, and you care about that person and their health. If I’ve said it once, I’ll say it million times again: If you’re going to co-exist in this world with other people, communication is the most important thing.
I know an alarming number of my close friends are currently coping with their fair share of mental illnesses right now, so I can’t even imagine what the readers of this article might be going through. While I can’t single-handedly make the pain go away, nor do I have an all-powerful cure for whatever it is that ails you, I do stand right beside every single one of you who are currently struggling with or are survivors of self-harm.
If you’ve chosen to read this article, maybe you’re struggling to put the blade down for more than a few days at a time. Maybe you’re a survivor of self-harm. Maybe you’re just curious as to why self-injury gets its own awareness day and what it’s all about. Regardless of your reasoning, if you’ve chosen to read this article — even if we’ve never personally met before — remember two things. A: You are loved more than can be put into words, and B: You’re very much alive and way stronger than you believe and have kicked the ass of every single thing that has tried to knock you down in the past. Don’t stop now! Keep kicking ass and showing life who’s boss! If you’re suffering in silence, please know that you’re not alone.
I hope you find the strength and courage to seek whatever help you may need. If you’re reading this article, you play a vital and necessary role in somebody’s life and you are needed here for a long time. I am proud of you and of however far you’ve come in whatever journey you’re on and I want you to know that it’s okay to not be okay all of the time. It’s okay to relapse. It’s okay to take a break for yourself. It’s okay to start over as long as you keep going and don’t stop!
I’m happy a day like Self-Injury Awareness Day exists, where people can be open, tell their stories, break down stereotypes and just make efforts to bring global awareness regarding self-harm or self-injury. I challenge you to do something this month to educate people and bring awareness to self-harm too, even if it’s just wearing a ribbon or wristband, participating in The Butterfly Project or Project Semicolon or just writing the word “LOVE” on your arm.
And, as always, remember these resources:
- If you need professional help, text CONNECT to the self-harm crisis hotline at 741741. It’s free. Don’t hesitate to talk about it!
- If you or someone you know is self-harming, Self-Injury Outreach & Support (SIOS) has resources that may help.
- If you or somebody you know is in a suicidal crisis or emotional distress, the number for the suicide prevention hotline is 1-800-273-8255 or you can visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org!
- The number for the National Sexual Assault Hotline is 800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat online at online.rainn.org.
- LGBTQ Youth can find a safe place to talk with the Trevor Project.