Self-injury affects as many as 1 in 10 young people; hospital admissions for self-injury among under 25's have risen by more than 50% in the last 5 years. The most common form is cutting, but people may also scratch, punch or burn themselves, pick their skin or pull out hair. Reasons vary; it is often to release unbearable emotional tension, which may be caused by grief, anxiety or despair, & often related to experiences like abuse, neglect, bullying, body image, school or work pressures.

We provide confidential text and email support for girls and young women who self-injure. This interactive support will help to reduce the stigma and isolation experienced and empower young people to begin to find other less harmful ways of managing difficult feelings and experiences. Text and email are means of communication that young people are familiar and comfortable with, and allow the person to express themselves perhaps for the first time, without fear of unwanted consequences.