self-harm

[self-hahrm]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Formerly self-mutilation.��Also called self-injury.��deliberate nonsuicidal injury to one’s own body tissue, as cutting or burning the skin, or pulling out hair, in a physical manifestation of emotional distress.
Self-harm, eating disorders, and substance abuse were reported among victims of bullying.

verb (used without object)

to hurt oneself deliberately, without suicidal intention, as a physical manifestation of emotional distress.
I self-harm to release the anxiety, but then I feel so much shame that I have to self-harm again to relieve that.

self-harm

noun

the practice of cutting or otherwise wounding oneself, usually considered as indicating psychological disturbance

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Other Word Forms

ˌ��-ˈ�󲹰��Բ� noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of self-harm¹

First recorded in 1610–20 self-harm for def. 1 and in 1940–45 self-harm for def. 2; self- ( def. ) + harm ( def. )

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"Further measures are always welcome but they will not address either the systemic weaknesses in the Online Safety Act," said Ian Russell, chair of the Molly Rose Foundation - an organisation set up in memory of his 14-year-old daughter Molly Russell, who took her own life after viewing thousands of images promoting suicide and self-harm.

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"As long as the focus is on sticking plasters not comprehensive solutions, regulation will fail to keep up with current levels of harm and major new suicide and self-harm threats," Mr Russell said.

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The murders also prompted a change by Twitter, which amended its rules to state users should not "promote or encourage suicide or self-harm".

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The Welsh government said that disabled people and other organisations had raised concerns that cuts to PIP would reduce access to crucial treatments and support systems, increasing the risk of "depression, self-harm and suicide".

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Scottish Conservatives leader Russell Findlay earlier said it would be a "complete act of national self-harm" not to continue drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea.

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self-hardening self-hatred

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