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Psychology vocabulary · Mental Health Conditions

Self-harm

Meaning in psychology, with examples

/ˌself ˈhɑːm/nounCommon term

In psychology, self-harm means: Deliberately hurting or injuring oneself, for example by cutting or burning, often as a way of coping with overwhelming emotional pain.

In Turkish: kendine zarar verme, kendini yaralama

How it is used

The standard term in UK services and research; American texts often say self-injury or non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). It is used as a noun and as a verb. Clinicians ask about it calmly and directly as part of a risk assessment.

Example sentences

  1. She started to self-harm at 14, when things at home became very difficult.

  2. School staff received training on how to respond to students who self-harm.

Common collocations

  • history of self-harm
  • self-harm behaviour
  • non-suicidal self-injury
  • risk of self-harm
  • risk assessmentA structured evaluation of how likely it is that a person may harm themselves or others, or be harmed, and of the factors that raise or lower that risk.
  • emotion regulationThe processes people use to influence which emotions they have, when they have them, and how strongly they experience and express them.
  • depressionA mental health condition marked by persistent low mood or loss of interest and pleasure, often with changes in sleep, appetite, energy and concentration.
  • confidentialityThe professional duty to keep what a client or research participant shares private, except in clearly defined situations such as a serious risk of harm.

More terms: Mental Health Conditions

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.