People who self-harm have often had very difficult or painful experiences or relationships. These may include:

• Bullying or discrimination.
• Losing someone close to them such as a parent, brother, sister or friend.
• Lack of love and affection or neglect by parents or carers.
• Physical or sexual abuse.
• A serious illness that affects the way they feel about themselves.

Other young people may start to self-harm as a way of dealing with the problems and pressures of everyday life. Pressure can come from family, school and peer groups to conform or to perform well (for example in getting good exam results). Young people can be made to feel angry, frustrated or bad about themselves if they cannot live up to other people's expectations.

Young people who self-harm may have low self-esteem. For some this is linked to poor body image, eating disorders, or drug misuse. Understanding why young people self-harm involves knowing as much as possible about their lives and lifestyles.

Peer pressures may occasionally be the most important reason for self-harm.Young people may find themselves among friends or other groups who self-harm and may be encouraged or pressurised to do the same.

Extreme feelings of fear, anger, guilt, shame, helplessness, self-hatred, unhappiness, depression or despair can build up over time. When these feelings become unbearable, self-harm can be a way of dealing with them.

Reasons young people have given for their self-harm include:

• When the level of emotional pressure becomes too high it acts as a safety valve - a way of relieving the tension.
• Cutting makes the blood take away the bad feelings.
• Pain makes them feel more alive when they feel numb or dead inside.
• Punishing themselves relieves feelings of shame or guilt.
• When it's too difficult to talk to anyone, it's a form of communication about their unhappiness - a way of saying they need help.
• Self-harm is something they can control when other parts of their life may seem out of control.