Self-Harm Behaviours: Causes and How to Seek Help in 2025

Are You or Someone You Know Struggling with Self-Harm?

The reality of self-harm can feel isolating and frightening. If you are hurting yourself—or are worried about someone who might be—it is important to know that you are not alone. For many, self-harm is not an attempt to end life, but rather a desperate effort to deal with unrelenting distress. In Australia, it is estimated that about one in ten teenagers engage in self-harm, and this behaviour often starts in the early teen years. Understanding the driving forces behind self-harm behaviours, recognising the signs, and knowing how to seek help are crucial steps toward healing.

Below, we explore the key questions around self-harm, synthesise research findings relevant to 2025 in Australia, and offer combined insights from mental health experts and community-based services.

What Does Self-Harm Involve?

Self-harm (also referred to as nonsuicidal self-injury) includes any act in which a person deliberately harms their own body, such as cutting, burning, punching, or otherwise inflicting injuries. Although this action may release pent-up tension or emotional pain momentarily, it can swiftly be followed by guilt or shame.

Self-harm is especially concerning for its potential to evolve into more serious wounds and complications. Indeed, short-term infections, long-term scarring, and amplified mental anguish represent just a small fraction of the damaging outcomes associated with ongoing self-harm behaviours. The vulnerability is heightened in groups facing specific stressors, such as Indigenous youth or those grappling with trauma. The following table offers a snapshot of prevalence related to self-harm in Australia based on existing research:

Population Group	Prevalence / Risk
All Australian teenagers (approx.)	1 in 10 report engaging in self-harm
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth (15–24)	5 times more likely to self-harm compared to non-Indigenous peers
Onset age range	Often begins between 12 and 14 years old
Gender influence	More prevalent among females

From this overview, it is clear that self-harm often starts early in adolescence. The risk can be magnified by multiple factors, including peer pressure, a family history of mental health challenges, or alcohol and substance use. Recognising that self-harm is a response to emotional pain rather than an isolated act of “attention-seeking” provides a more empathetic lens through which to respond.

Why Do People Engage in Self-Harm Behaviours?

Individuals turn to self-harm for a variety of reasons, typically shaped by unmanageable emotions and a limited set of coping skills. Some of the most common factors in 2025 Australia include:

• Difficulties in Emotional Regulation: Many people who self-harm struggle to name, express, or manage intense feelings. Self-harm can temporarily alleviate distress, but it does not address root causes.
• Social Pressures and Peer Influence: When friends engage in self-harm, others may be persuaded to try it. Negative environments—whether in-person or online—can also contribute to a sense of hopelessness.
• Traumatic Experiences: Physical, emotional, or sexual mistreatment, bullying, or a chaotic family life can significantly raise one’s vulnerability to self-harm.
• Underlying Mental Health Conditions: Conditions such as borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress can increase susceptibility.

In rural regions and smaller communities—like parts of Victoria—social isolation may intensify feelings of loneliness. As a result, those without strong social networks or stable family environments might face a heightened risk. Additionally, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people face intergenerational trauma and social disadvantage, which make them five times more likely to self-harm.

What Are the Warning Signs and Risks?

People who self-harm often exhibit particular warning signs in their thoughts, emotions, and behaviour. These red flags might include frequent “accidents,” fresh wounds, wearing unusually concealing clothes in hot weather, or an increased focus on negativity and hopelessness. It is also common to see impulsive or unpredictable actions.

If self-harm remains hidden or unaddressed, short-term and long-term complications can become more serious. The table below compares these risks side by side:

	Short-Term Risks	Long-Term Risks
Physical	Infections from open wounds, scars, or burns	Permanent scarring and lasting tissue damage
Emotional	Temporary guilt and shame	Worsening mental health (e.g., heightened depression, anxiety)
Social	Strained relationships and social isolation	Ongoing withdrawal from peers and community networks
Self-Harm Path	Potential escalation to more frequent or severe acts	Increased suicide risk if left untreated

These dangers serve as a reminder that self-harm, while momentarily relieving stress, can lead to a deeper entrenchment of both psychological and physical harm. Intervention at any point is invaluable for steering someone towards meaningful recovery.

How Can We Address Self-Harm Behaviours in Australia?

Approaching self-harm requires empathy, clear-headed action, and a supportive environment. Australia has cultivated multiple frameworks to tackle self-harm across different population groups and age ranges. Health experts recommend:

• Early Identification: Teachers, parents, and community leaders are often the first to notice if a young person seems withdrawn or is wearing long sleeves to hide injuries. By being aware of the warning signs, they can encourage the individual to seek professional help.
• Community Awareness: Initiatives in some regions of Victoria and other states address self-harm language and myths. Campaigns emphasise that self-harm is never merely “attention-seeking” but a call for help.
• Specialised Services: Organisations such as Headspace provide youth-specific interventions. These offer a safe environment in which to discuss self-harm and mental health. Additionally, Ararat Wellness in Victoria focuses on positive behavioural support for children, young people, and adults, exemplifying the person-centred approach increasingly favoured in modern counselling.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with culturally appropriate self-harm or suicide prevention programmes has been a notable national priority. This approach acknowledges generational trauma and aims to tailor therapies to cultural contexts.

Each of these approaches benefits when seamlessly integrated with professional mental health support. There is growing appreciation that self-harm prevention extends beyond clinical intervention to encompass bolstering systems of support at school, in the workplace, and online.

What Steps Can You Take to Seek Help?

When seeking help for self-harm behaviours, it is essential to remember that multiple doors are open, and you do not have to figure out everything alone. The following real examples and resources illustrate how Australians can create safe pathways to healing:

1. Community-Based Youth Support:

   Headspace has become a cornerstone for young Australians facing mental health challenges. Many Headspace centres provide walk-in consultations, group sessions, and telephone or online support to help individuals talk about self-harm confidentially and without fear of judgement.

2. Telephone Crisis Lines:

   Lifeline (13 11 14) remains a widely recognised 24-hour crisis hotline, offering immediate emotional support. Children and young adults can also reach out to Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) for specialised counselling and advice.

3. Integrated Therapy with Ararat Wellness:

   Since 2018, Ararat Wellness has emphasized empathetic care, positive behavioural support, and personalised counselling. This model reflects growing consensus that holistic, flexible, and culturally secure approaches can strengthen resilience. Their telehealth services have broadened accessibility for people who may not be able to travel to in-person sessions.

It is also helpful to express concerns with a trusted friend, family member, teacher, or mentor if safe. They may be able to guide you toward professional care or accompany you on the journey. Bringing a trusted support person to health appointments can significantly reduce anxiety and make it easier to discuss sensitive issues.

Charting a Path Towards Healing and Connection

Self-harm does not have to define a person’s identity or future. Addressing the underlying causes—such as emotional struggles, unmet mental health needs, or social pressures—gives individuals a chance to rediscover hope and self-compassion. Efforts in 2025 Australia reflect growing awareness that collaborative, inclusive, and compassionate support systems improve outcomes.

Many communities are also beginning to understand that self-harm is linked to broader well-being and must be addressed comprehensively. From fostering healthy social networks in the schoolyard and tackling cyberbullying to offering dedicated mental health counselling, prevention measures are becoming more substantial. As these approaches continue to expand and evolve across the country, individuals—especially teenagers—will find more reasons to believe in a future free from the painful cycle of self-injury.

The path involves building coping strategies, such as mindfulness, journalling, or creative pursuits, and locating professionals trained to guide recovery. By working together—parents, teachers, local authorities, friends, and mental health professionals—the cycle of harming and secrecy can be broken.

If you or someone you know shows signs of self-harm, try to acknowledge the emotional pain that underlies those actions. Compassionate listening and consistent support cannot be overstated. Ultimately, self-harm is a call to address emotional distress with nurturing and more affirming alternatives.

If you need support or have questions, please contact us at Ararat Wellness.