self-harm

noun

ˌself-ˈhärm

: the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism

Although most cutters are young women who have been emotionally, sexually, or physically abused as children, [Marilee] Strong's research shows that this specific type of self-harm also appears in other groups.—

Maria Simson et al.

called also self-injury, self-mutilation

self-harm intransitive verb

self-harmed; self-harming; self-harms

teenagers who self-harm

Examples of self-harm in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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Prosecutors said his prime focus online was vulnerable Asian teenagers who shared posts about financial difficulties and self-harm. —

Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2025 Compared to the general population, adults with ADHD have a much higher prevalence of substance abuse, smoking, financial turmoil, unemployment, self-harm, poor sleeping habits, compulsive behaviors and housing instability. —

New Atlas, 3 Feb. 2025 Russell says much of the data about the crisis in youth mental health — alarming increases in rates of adolescents reporting depression or self-harm behaviors like suicidality — come from this survey. —

Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 31 Jan. 2025 Season 2 broke boundaries for a YA show, diving headfirst into the mental health struggles of its characters, showing the teens battling with depression, turning to eating disorders and even self-harm. —

Emily Longeretta, Variety, 30 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for self-harm