Student Development and Counselling
Mental Health Resources
Self-harm
This page contains relevant information and resources for students concerned about self-injury, or self-harm.
Self-injury can be defined as any intentional self-inflicted harm. There are many different reasons and ways in which people may selfharm, however it is often used as a method of coping with deep emotional or psychological troubles. While some self-harmers may
experience some relief from these unbearable feelings when they self-harm, it usually results in suppression of the issues at heart and
may lead to continually more severe self-harm being required to achieve this effect. There is much debate in the professional
community about self-harm and its treatments, however it is generally accepted that self-harm is not an effective coping mechanism
and that without help from a health professional or counsellor it may very difficult to stop and can have severe consequences.
If You Are Self-Harming
If you are self-harming, there are a number of services and resources that can help you. It is important that you seek help to deal with
the thoughts and feelings that may be driving you to self-harm, as while you may feel some relief from these feelings immediately after
self-harming, they are likely to become stronger and less able to be controlled in the future. Speaking with a counsellor, or another
health professional, can help you explore your reasons for self-harming and develop some healthier ways to cope with the associated
feelings and emotions. If you are feeling the urge to harm yourself now, please contact Lifeline 13 11 14 or a health professional
immediately.
How to Help Someone Who May Be Self-Harming
If someone you know is self-harming, the best thing to do is approach them about this behaviour and let them know that you are
concerned and would like to help. Offer to be there if they need someone to talk to and suggest that seeing a counsellor or another
health professional may help them deal with these terrible feelings they must be experiencing to inflict this upon themselves. Do not be
shocked and afraid of their self-harm, as this may encourage them to continue to hide their self-harm from others. Removing possible
weapons can be helpful in the first instance, however taking extreme measures, such as preventing the sufferer from leaving the house
and so forth may serve to encourage them to seek other, sometimes more severe, methods to self-harm, and if his/her reasons for selfharming remain ignored, his/her desire, or need, to self-harm is unlikely to go away.
Check out the following resources and services for more information about self-harm, its causes, and available treatments.
Swinburne University Services and Resources
 Swin-eCounselling Emergency Contact Numbers - Numbers to phone for assistance if you are currently suicidal or
experiencing an emergency [http://www.swinburne.edu.au/stuserv/counselling/swin_ecounselling/resources/emergency.htm].

Student Development and Counselling - For one-on-one counselling to help you deal with your thoughts and feelings
associated with self-harm and find better ways to cope with them
[http://www.swinburne.edu.au/stuserv/counselling/index.html].

Swinburne Health Service - Offers a friendly and accessible service including first aid, medical consultations, health
counselling, health promotion and health information. These services are provided at no cost in a strictly confidential manner
[http://www.swinburne.edu.au/stuserv/health/index.html].

Swinburne Psychology Clinic - For one-on-one, or group, counselling to help address and overcome your need to selfharm [http://www.swinburne.edu.au/lss/psychology/pc].

Local Community Council Databases - Search for your local community services that offer treatment for self-harm and
related conditions
[http://www.swinburne.edu.au/stuserv/communitylinks.
html].
Other Self-Harm Services and Resources
Warning: These sites may contain potentially triggering material.
Please keep yourself safe when browsing the websites listed
below.

Lifeline - Phone 13 11 14. Access to suicide
prevention treatment services and training. Note:
counselling is not available through the Lifeline website [http://www.lifeline.org.au].

Richmond Fellowship of Victoria, The - Specialist Mental Health service providing psychosocial rehabilitation services to
people with psychiatric disability [http://www.rfv.org.au].

SANE - Phone 1800 18 SANE for crisis help during business hours. Website also provides an online helpline, fact sheets
and some translated material [http://www.sane.org].

Self-Injury And Related Issues (SIARI) - A free international internet service of information, resources, and support
[http://www.siari.co.uk].

Somazone Self-harm Fact Sheet - Fact sheet and tips about self-harm and the associated thoughts and feelings
[http://www.somazone.com.au/content.asp?document_id=1532].