Blog · Gia Bird · 1 April 2024
Young people
Self-harm: when to get help
Gia Bird on taking marks and distress seriously — without turning the internet into a how-to.
What this can look like
A young person hiding arms, a change in clothing, isolation, or a parent who has found something they cannot unsee. Distress that has nowhere else to go.
How counselling can help
Counselling can be one part of staying safer and finding other ways to survive overwhelming feeling. I will not discuss methods. I will talk about support, school, GP and, where needed, specialist services. Parents are often essential, not optional.
When it is more than counselling
Wounds that need medical care, or a young person who is not safe — A&E, 999, or 111. School safeguarding leads exist for a reason. Therapy is not an emergency department.
This article is general information for people considering care at Health at Hart in Hartley Wintney. It is not a diagnosis, a prescription, or a promise of outcome. If you have sudden, severe or unexplained symptoms — including chest pain, unexplained weight loss, night pain, bowel or bladder changes, or a new neurological problem — seek urgent medical advice (NHS 111 or 999). UK osteopaths are regulated by the General Osteopathic Council. Counsellors named here are BACP-registered where stated. Always check with your GP or insurer if you are unsure whether a treatment is appropriate for you.
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