March 2018

Spotlight on Women and self-harm

Self-harm is the act of deliberately hurting one’s own body, and includes cutting, biting, burning, poisoning and scratching. Women are more likely to self-harm than men and are at risk of starting to self-harm from early adolescence. 

Due to the stigma associated with self-harm, many women do not seek treatment. Suicidal behaviour and self-harm in women can be viewed by family, health professionals and the community as attention-seeking, manipulative and non-serious, which can negatively influence how young women are treated. In Australia and internationally, self-harm in young women is on the rise, highlighting the need for widely available, gender-sensitive treatment which addresses coping behaviours as well as the reasons women turn to self-harm. With effective treatment, and if the underlying distress is managed, it is anticipated that self-harming behaviours will likely remit.

Women's Health Victoria Website