This is a simple directory of resources which various people on the Support Groups Self Harm group have found helpful. It is by no means exhaustive. If you have suggestions for things to add please post a comment in the group forum
US: 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK)
Canada: 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645
Canada en francais: 1-866-277-3553 (1-866-APPELLE )
USA or Canada (most places): 211
UK: 08457 90 90 90 (Samaritans)
UK: 111 (NHS)
New Zealand: 111
Australia: 13 11 14 (Lifeline)
India: 91-22-27546669 (AASRA)
OR call your local emergency number.
Suicide Stop - internet & chat
SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education) - US based
Kid's Help Phone (Canada): 1-800-668-6868 or text TALK to 686868 (English) or TEXTO to 686868 (French)
Good 2 Talk - post-secondary confidential help line: 1-866-925-5454 - Canada
Crisis Text Line (Self Harm): Text CTL to 741741 - US based
Life SIGNS - UK based
Mental Health Foundation - New Zealand
Lifeline - Australia; online chat available
AASRA - India
Most schools, colleges, and universities have counselling available to students at low or no charges. Some also have clinics staffed by masters and doctoral students.
Help for Cutting - for parents
What NOT to say to a child... - for parents
Zachs Help Page - (inactive)
Psych Central - general help
To Write Love On Her Arms - help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-harm, and suicide
Why We Worry- PDF article on the current scientific understanding of anxiety
Hurt Blocker - PDF article on how the brain processes chronic pain
The Brain's journey to resilience- short, fun, educational video
Therapy Takeaways - people share important ideas they got during therapy
Another very helpful list of resources
How to Relieve Panic Attacks - SG thread
The Eisenhower Matrix - helping you to decide what to do next
One Step at a Time - improving mental health through fitness; More of the same
Gratitude Journalling - notice the Good Things in your life; More of the same
YouTube videos on coping with self-harm (TRIGGER WARNING: some of these videos are quite disturbing)
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is the most commonly used approach for treating Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Self-Harm is a closely-related condition.
Anxiety Chronicles - Washington Post series of personal stories
Pretend It's OK - personal website
Cutters and Crazies - a story (also available in eBook)
Raptitude - getting better at being human
Marc and Angel Hack Life - tools to identify and transform the beliefs that keep you stuck
Self Harm Confessions - a Tumblr blog which may contain disturbing material
Uncertainty isn't so bad - on Tiny Buddha website
When you think life sucks - on Tiny Buddha website
I Am Surviving - a HuffPo article about anxiety
What I mean when I say "I have anxiety" - Huffington Post article
If you have suggestions, please post a comment or PM the moderator on the Support Groups Self-Harm group.
Helpful meds & what to ask your doctor
A well-known list of 146 suggestions at ASIF
Butterfly Project
When you feel like you want to cut, take a marker or pen and draw a butterfly on wherever the self-harm occurs.
Name the butterfly after a loved one, or someone that really wants you to get better.
NO scrubbing the butterfly off. It has to come off of your body naturally.
If you cut before the butterfly is gone, it dies. If you don’t cut, it lives.
If you have more than one butterfly, cutting kills them all.
Another person may draw them on you. These butterflies are extra special. Take good care of them.
Even if you don’t cut, feel free to draw a butterfly anyways, to show your support. If you do this, name it after someone you know that is suffering right now, and tell them.
Try keeping track of how many butterflies have successfully flown away. It will give you a sense of accomplishment and strength.
When you feel like you want to cut, take a marker or pen and draw a butterfly on wherever the self-harm occurs.
Name the butterfly after a loved one, or someone that really wants you to get better.
NO scrubbing the butterfly off. It has to come off of your body naturally.
If you cut before the butterfly is gone, it dies. If you don’t cut, it lives.
If you have more than one butterfly, cutting kills them all.
Another person may draw them on you. These butterflies are extra special. Take good care of them.
Even if you don’t cut, feel free to draw a butterfly anyways, to show your support. If you do this, name it after someone you know that is suffering right now, and tell them.
Try keeping track of how many butterflies have successfully flown away. It will give you a sense of accomplishment and strength.