There are several things people may do to help reduce the likelihood of self-injury. Perhaps the most valuable is to learn to express emotions – especially those of anger or sadness. Most people who self-injure have difficulty expressing these emotions. Seeking counseling for any type of abuse that may have previously occurred can also help prevent a person from becoming a self-injurer. Nearly half of those who self-injure were physically or sexually abused as children, according to the National Mental Health Association (NMHA).

Once people have become self-injurers, there are steps they can take to reduce their risk of future episodes. The first step is to recognize the behavior as something they no longer wish to do. In order to help them accomplish this, it is recommended they seek help from a mental health professional who has experience dealing with self-injury. Other steps self-injurers can take include:

• Learn to respect and value their own bodies.
  
  
• Express emotions. Identify and express negative feelings – especially anger and sadness.
  
  
• Think rather than act. Stop and evaluate the pros and cons of self-injury instead of impulsively acting on feelings or thoughts.
  
  
• Self-soothe. Engage in positive, non-injurious distractions when feelings of self-harm arise. These may include breathing exercises, positive imagery, counting to 10, waiting 15 minutes or journaling.
  
  
• Develop better social skills. Learn to enjoy the company of others and spend less time alone.

After self-injurers have identified and taken steps to address their problem, they will need to make certain lifestyle adjustments. These may include:

• Avoiding physical and emotional isolation
  
  
• Making time for therapy sessions
  
  
• Keeping a list of people to contact handy (for times of intense emotional distress)
  
  
• Being aware of the side-effects of certain substances that may affect mood or energy level (e.g., medications, alcohol)
  
  
• Identifying how to treat or explain physical scars

Friends and family members can lessen the likelihood of self-injury by helping their loved one talk about the problem. Ignoring self-injury does not make it go away. Open, honest and direct conversation helps the self-injurer air feelings, reduces the shame and secrecy surrounding self-injury and helps prevent social isolation.