Definition

In its broadest sense, self-harm describes a wide range of things that people do to themselves in a deliberate and usually hidden way, which are damaging.

Within this, the particular focus of the National Inquiry is:

• Cutting behaviours
• Other forms of self-harm, eg burning, banging, hair pulling
• Self-poisoning

The National Inquiry is not looking at: eating disorders, drug and alcohol misuse, risk taking behaviours such as unsafe sex, dangerous driving.