Posted On: 2024-03-01 10:21:11
TW: Discussions of Self-Harm
March 1st is annually marked as Self-Injury Awareness Day, aka SIAD, to raise awareness about self-harm and encourage people to open up about their struggles. People wear an orange awareness ribbon, write "LOVE" on their arms, and draw a butterfly on their wrists in awareness of "the Butterfly Project" wristband or beaded bracelet to encourage awareness of self-harm.
Rising self-harm is one of the ignored epidemics emerging in India. Kota is becoming increasingly infamous for young people taking their own lives. Within the span of two weeks, three students took their own lives.
Pressure to succeed is not the only reason to take one’s life, as an increasingly toxic culture has also caused many to tragically take their own lives. In November 2023, 16-year-old Priyanshu, a queer influencer, took his own life after facing a barrage of homophobic slurs. Priyanshu’s only fault was expressing himself through wearing sarees and make-up.
It is becoming increasingly important for our population to recognise signs of self-harm. In this article, we will be looking at how to recognise signs of self-harm.
A sudden shift in a person’s behaviour or mood is usually one of the signs of self-harm. If a happy and kind person becomes aggressive or a depressed and sullen person becomes suddenly cheerful, it could be a potential warning sign. Genuine disinterest in their hobbies or favourite pastimes is also an indicator.
A person spending more time in bed or experiencing insomnia could also be another warning sign. People struggling with mental illness, often struggle with sleep causing them to stay up all night and experience huge levels of fatigue.
People thinking of committing self-harm may seem detached from life. They may find it hard to connect with people and might isolate themselves socially. They might also lose interest in their jobs, maintaining relationships and personal hygiene.
It is important to keep checking on people who have just experienced a crisis in life. Crisis can include loss of job, end of a relationship, loss of a loved one, serious financial issues or becoming a victim of intense cyberbullying.
Engaging in dangerous behaviour like reckless driving, engaging in unsafe sex, and increased use of drugs or alcohol might indicate that a person no longer cares about their life as they see no value in it. It is important to let them know that they matter and are valued by people around them.
Here is a list of helpline numbers. Remember to call this number if you or your loved ones are having thoughts of self-harm.
Filaantro, along with Child Help Foundation (NGO), understands the dangers of the self-harm epidemic. Filaantro regularly conducts mental health sessions, which have helped 3,385 people in the current financial year, 2023-2024.
Thank you for reading this article. Make sure to share it with all your friends and family members to make them aware of signs of self-harm.
Author: Adil Sayyad
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