There are a lot of really thoughtful and thought-provoking blogs being written just now about self-harm in times of crisis and lockdown and what that means for different people.

We wanted to share as many of them as possible here, as we feel it's an especially important topic when people are more isolated than ever, and we are hearing from a lot of people who are struggling with increased self-harm and thoughts of self-harm during the current crisis.

No one is wrong in how they are responding, and we are here to support you.

If you would like us to link to a blog you have written or write a blog for publication on our website, please get in touch on [email protected]

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Here are the blogs we have come across so far - all are listed here with permission of the authors:

The Social Life of Self Harm, in Lockdown

This blog was written by Liv*, an MSc student who has experience with self-harm, who keeps her contribution anonymous, with additional content by Baptiste Brossard, Lecturer in Sociology at Australian National University and Amy Chandler, Lecturer in Health in Social Science, and one of Centre for Research on Families and Relationship at the University of Edinburgh’s co-directors.

@CRFRtweets @BaptistBrossard @DrAmyChandler

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When Your Way of Coping Isn't the Most Traditional

The world needs to talk about this more. As I write this I don’t know if I’ll ever share this post but I really hope I can find the courage to, because it’s so important, often stereotyped, stigmatised & not understood. I have struggled with self harm. I have had a evenings where I’ve not wanted to be here anymore. I’ve been to A&E twice for treatment & been seen by the mental health liaison team there. I’m ashamed of all this (although I shouldn’t be) but this is reality and is probably the reality of a lot more people than any of you realise. 

@ellena_farrow

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Self harm is something many living with mental illness have experienced, and yet it remains something people are squeamish about, that they reject, that they shame us for.

I started self-harming when I was eleven, or that’s what I tell people. When I was a toddler and young child I would pick all the skin off my lips and collect the blood on tissue or bits of paper and hide them under my pillow. I’d take them out at night and stare at them, fascinated. That’s probably where it started for me.

This blog is part of the wider Mad Covid Diaries series aiming to document the lived experiences of those who were mad before the entire world went Covid crazy for historical purposes and to influence change right now. 

Thank you to @EHopeDocherty and @MadCovid for permission to share this blog

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