Diagnosing self-harm cases

The diagnosis of self-harm is based on the criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5):

• On at least five days in the last year, the person has injured themselves in order to hurt themselves but not with the intention of suicide.

• The person self-harms for one or more of the following reasons: 
  • Relief from a negative feeling or thought.
  • Resolving an interpersonal difficulty.
  • Causing positive feelings.
• Before self-harming, the person experiences: 
  • Interpersonal difficulties or negative feelings or thoughts, including depression or anxiety.
  • Frequent thoughts about self-harm.
  • A frequent need to self-harm.

• The behaviour is not socially accepted (for example, getting piercings or tattoos, picking a scab or biting your nails are not considered to be self-harm).
• The behaviour causes distress or interferes with social, academic, or other important areas of functioning.
• The behaviour cannot be explained by any other mental disorder, neurodevelopmental disorder or other medical problem.

As well as getting professional help, people who self-harm or their family or friends can do things to reduce the probability of self-harming in the future.