Self-harm; a Mental Health Practitioner’s Perspective

people to self-harm in secret. You may do this because you feel as though your thoughts and feelings aren’t acceptable to other people. You might not want others to know, as you might be anxious about what they think. This is not mental illness but is caused with mental distress.

The following article was submitted by Mr Brighton Lupeska.

A mental health professional working at Lighthouse Trust, Kawale Health Centre. Lilongwe.

Call: 0996 750 057

Self-harm is an act of attempting or complete harming oneself. Self-harm is harming yourself on purpose. Such as by scratching, cutting, overdosing medication, biting or burning or using any harmful method. It is common for

As earlier indicated self-harm is caused by mental distress that later manifest in physical action. Sometimes people intentionally harm themselves when they want to communicate strong emotional feelings. In times when they feel the world is shuttered around them and feel that they no one wants to listen to their emotional distress. It is common for people to self-harm in secret. They may do this because they feel as though their thoughts and feelings aren’t acceptable to other people. They might not want others to know, as they might be anxious about what they think.

Self-harm for control

Self-harm can be a way of feeling in control of your body or your environment. You may self-harm if you dissociate, so that you can feel real. Dissociation means that you feel like you are detached from yourself, or from reality. You may self-harm so that you feel ‘normal.’ Self-harm may be a method that you use to stay in control of your day to day life. Self-harm is linked to dissociative mood disorders (mental health disorder)

Self-harm for punishment

People may self-harm to punish themselves for feelings or behaviour that they think are their fault. Even if they didn’t do anything wrong, they may feel like may hate themselves. This is a common reason why people selfharm. You may not understand why you feel like this. You may not be able to link your feelings to something that has happened.

Who is at risk of self-harm?

It is hard to know who is at risk of selfharm but more often there are signs that show when one is intentionally planning to self-harm. Mental illness and distress in most cases are not attended to enough compared to physical challenges. Risk factors of self-harm include:

 People who have lost property and loved ones through disaster, accident or suicide and may suffer from self-blame as well as survivor’s guilt

 People who abuse substances, alcohol, drugs and many more. In most cases abusers/ addicts normally are abusing alcohol or substances to cope with emotional distress

 Have mental health illness such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, low self-esteem, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia.

 Survivors of sexual, emotional, economical and physical abuse

 Prisoners

 Struggling with financial issues e.g. debt.

Protecting loved ones and offering support

As it is hard to notice, it also becomes hard to support loved ones when they are planning or have completed an act of self-harm. Mostly people who are at risk of self-harm may try to talk about it but may be judged as attention seekers.

The most practical way to help is to actively listen to their story in nonjudgmental way. Don't be quick to ask whybut focus on acknowledge their feelings with empathy as that is where the real issues lie.

You can help further by linking them to the right resources, psychologists, psychotherapist, psychosocial counsellors, social workers and many more mental health providers.

‘It is not being out at heels that makes a man discontented. It is being out at heart.

To be contented is to be good friends with yourself.

Bliss Carman

Mental Health Professionals in Northern Malawi

St John of God Hospitaller Services

01311690 / 01311495

John Banda (Psychosocial Counsellor)

Moyale Barrakcs

0994 434 012 johnalickbanda05@gmail.com

Precious Chipeta (Psychosocial Counsellor)

0886 687 857 kanyakulapreciouschipeta@gmail.com

Buxton Shaba (Psychosocial Counsellor)

CEO Youth Mental Health Warrior. Mzuzu Katoto

0996 560 666

William Mackson Phiri 0881 072 623

Justina Msofi (Psychosocial Counsellor)

Luwinga Secondary School

0888 505 043 jasstinamsofi@yahoo.com

Jimmy Kambalame

Lighthouse Trust, Central Hospital. Mzuzu

0999 944 899