I am 17 now but I was only 12 when I first self-harming. I started to self-harm because I was going through a hard time with my dad. I was confused - I felt like he didn’t want to know me as he kept finding time to spend with another family member rather than me, and it made me feel unwanted.

Why do I do it?

I have moments in my life where I am depressed and I get flash-backs of my past, which is a self-harm trigger for me. I don't know how to stop my brain thinking, so the only way I can make it stop is to self-harm. I know I shouldn't, but I feel like I just can't handle the flash backs any other way.

What can help

When I feel depressed, I go for walk or I will put music on and do some cleaning. Anything to distract my mind. Or I go to meet friends, even if I don't always feel up to it. Or if that does't work, splashing freezing cold water on your face or putting an elastic band on your and twanging it can help as well. Or check out Calm Harm - a free App that helps you calm the urge to self harm (see below).

How others can help

If you know someone who self-harms, or if you are self harming yourself, it is really important to know that other people around you can be there to talk about it. It can be your friends or your family, but if you feel like you can't to talk them, you can always talk to a mental health professional or go to counselling.

But whatever you do, talking really does help.

For more information on self-harming and support have a look at: www.stem4.org.uk