Self Harm & Autism
Warning: Information on self-harm and suicide may be potentially triggering or upsetting to read.
If your life is at risk right now
If you feel like you might attempt suicide, or may have seriously harmed yourself, you need urgent medical help.
If you are on your own, reach out now to someone you trust
Call 999 for an ambulance
Go straight to your local Accident & Emergency or Emergency Department if you can
Speak to your health professional or local crisis team for help
If you can’t do this by yourself, ask someone to help you.
It is important you get help.
Mental health emergencies are serious. You are not wasting anyone’s time.
Crisis Support
If you feel in crisis, phone emergency services or a crisis hotline.
Northern Ireland & UK
- Call: 0808 808 8000 Lifeline. 116 123 The Samaritans
- Text: 85258 SHOUT, the 24/7 UK text support service
- Email: jo@samaritans.org. It may take several days to receive a reply by email.
Ireland
- Call: 1800 247 247 Pieta 24/7 Crisis helpline. 116 123 The Samaritans
- Text: HELP to 51444 the Pieta Free 24/7 Crisis helpline
- Email: jo@samaritans.org. It may take several days to receive a reply by email.
Mind the Mental Health charity has created some useful tools to support young people during a crisis.
Self Harm:
Self harm is when a person deliberately injures themselves. The methods used to cause the injury can take many forms including cutting, scratching, picking at their skin, pulling hair or banging their head. Self harm can be with or without suicidal intent.
Some people who self-harm do not experience suicidal ideation or an intention to die. Even though for some autistic people there is no desire to die when engaging in self harm, research suggests it is associated with a greater risk of suicide in the future. Therefore, support and access to appropriate resources is important.
It has been reported that up to half of autistic people show self-injurious behaviour (SIB) (Richards et al 2012). Autistic women are more likely than men to harm themselves.
Read next: Suicidal Feelings & Autism →