How do i tell someone?
If 1 in 10 people self-harm why is it so hard to talk about it?
Talking about your problems can help you feel less alone, to see your problems more clearly and think about things differently. But it can still hard to share something so private.
Starting that first conversation can raise lots of emotions for you and you will probably have lots of practice conversations in your head before you even say anything! This is you preparing yourself to have that conversation. It might even be helpful to write down what you want to say; but be mindful of where you keep your written notes, so they are not discovered until you are ready to have the conversation.
Alternatively, you could write an email or letter to your chosen person; but this probably won’t alter how they respond, and you will of course still have to see them for that first time after they have read your words.
Who are you going to talk to?
It’s for you to decide who you are going to talk to; most importantly it needs to be someone you trust.
Talking to a relative or friends can be hard because of the emotions involved, and the reaction you may anticipate (more on that later).
However, be aware that if you chose to talk to a ’professional’ (usually someone who is employed to work with you in whatever capacity; doctor, teacher, youth worker, counsellor) they will have policies they have to follow. This may mean that they are duty bound to contact your parent/carer or guardian and let them know about what you’ve told them.
You could check this out before you share anything – you could ask “What is the rule about information I tell you?”
