Understanding men's experiences of self-harm

This year, our focus on Self-Injury Awareness Day is on the experiences of men.  

Estimates from the NHS Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey suggest that 8.5% of men have experienced non-suicidal self-harm.²  The true prevalence is likely higher, as many people do not disclose self-harm due to stigma. Rates are highest among adolescents and young adults, with around 15% of men aged 16 to 34 reporting experience of self harm.² However, it also remains relatively common in older age groups, including 6.2% of men aged 55 to 64.²

Research shows that men are half as likely as women to have contact with medical or mental health services after self-injuring.¹ Clinicians may also be less likely to recognise self-injury among men due to gender stereotypes and biased assumptions.³ This means that the majority of men who self-injure are going without professional support. Some men who do seek support find that their options are limited due to their gender, as some specialist services only support women and mixed-gender groups are often majority female.

We recently spoke to 13 men about their lived experience of self-harm as part of an ongoing Mental Health Foundation research project. They spoke  openly about their experiences of recovery and the challenges they faced along the way. This included the harmful impact of mental health stigma, masculine gender norms, and gender stereotypes about self-injury. 

It also included stories of strength and hope, and the transformative power of peer support. Many talked about the importance of speaking with other people, particularly other men, with lived experience of self-harm. These conversations helped to break down shame and secrecy about self-injury, normalise mental health challenges, and build self-compassion. In several cases, supporting others going through similar experiences also became an important part of their personal recovery.