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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Assessment online. A doctor can talk with you, check your safety, treat low mood or anxiety and refer you for support; injuries and specialist mental health care are in person.
- What it is: intentionally damaging or injuring your body, usually as a way of coping with very difficult feelings. It is a sign of emotional distress.
- Who it affects: people of all ages and backgrounds. There is no typical person who self-harms.
- Getting better: talking therapy and treatment for what lies behind it help, and support from people around you matters. Doctors on Mobi Doctor are available daily 7am–11pm CEST, and 112 is there at any hour.
- Emergency: call 112 or go to an emergency department for an injury that is bleeding heavily or is deep, if you have taken anything, or if you might act on thoughts of ending your life.
Do not book a video appointment if you have an injury that will not stop bleeding or is deep, if you have taken too much of any medicine or another substance, even if you feel fine, or if you are thinking about ending your life and might act on it. Call 112 or go to an emergency department now. Ask someone to take you, rather than driving yourself.
Can an online doctor help with self-harm?
Yes, as a first step, when you are safe right now. A doctor by video can talk with you without judgement, check whether an injury needs to be seen, ask about what lies behind the self-harm, treat low mood or anxiety, and refer you for the talking therapy and mental health support that help most. Injuries that need treatment, anything you have taken, and specialist mental health care are in person, and in an emergency, call 112.
How an online consultation helps with self-harm
- No judgement: You will not be told off, or made to promise anything. The doctor wants to understand what you are going through.
- Your safety checked: Any injury, anything you have taken, and thoughts of suicide, asked about calmly and plainly.
- What lies behind it: Low mood, anxiety, trauma or overwhelming feelings, and treatment for them.
- Support that lasts: A referral for talking therapy and mental health support, and a follow-up so you are not left alone with it.
What the doctor checks in an online consultation about self-harm
The doctor asks about your safety first, then about how you are feeling. You do not have to describe what you did in detail. The doctor asks about:
- Safety now: whether you have an injury that needs care, whether you have taken anything, and whether you have thoughts of ending your life.
- How you are feeling: what has been happening, what the self-harm helps you cope with, and how long you have felt this way.
- Mood and anxiety: low mood, worry, panic, trauma, and alcohol or drug use.
- Support: who you can talk to, and who you would contact in a crisis.
- Your health: other conditions and the medicines you take.
You decide how much to say. Saying ‘I have been hurting myself and I want help’ is enough to start.
What is self-harm, and why do people self-harm?
Self-harm is when somebody intentionally damages or injures their body. It is usually a way of coping with very difficult feelings, painful memories or overwhelming situations, and it is a sign of emotional distress. Reasons differ from person to person and can change over time:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Reason | What people describe |
|---|---|
| Coping with distress | A way of expressing or getting through overwhelming emotions |
| Feeling in control | A sense of control when other things feel out of control |
| Asking for help | A way of showing how bad things are when words are hard to find |
| Linked to other difficulties | Stress, anxiety, depression, past trauma, or conditions such as ADHD or autism |
Self-harm can bring short-term relief, which can make it harder to stop, and difficult feelings such as guilt or shame often come back afterwards. People of all ages and backgrounds self-harm.
Is self-harm attention-seeking?
No. Calling it attention-seeking leaves people feeling judged and alone, and there is nothing wrong with wanting your feelings to be taken seriously. Any self-harm can be a sign that someone is extremely distressed.
Is self-harm linked to suicide?
There is a clear link between self-harm and suicidal thoughts, although not everyone who self-harms wants to end their life. A previous suicide attempt is an important risk factor for suicide, which is why every episode of self-harm deserves care, and why the doctor asks about suicidal thoughts every time.
If you are having thoughts of ending your life, the suicidal thoughts page explains where to get help now. In immediate danger, call 112.
What should you do if you have hurt yourself?
Get help with the injury first, and do not wait to see whether it gets better.
- Call 112 or go to an emergency department if bleeding will not stop, the injury is very large or deep, or you lose feeling near it or cannot move it well.
- If you have taken too much of any medicine or another substance, get emergency care now, even if you feel fine: symptoms can take hours or days to start. Take the packaging with you, and do not try to make yourself sick.
- For bleeding, press firmly on the injury with a clean, folded cloth while you get help.
- See a doctor promptly if an injury becomes swollen, red and more painful, leaks pus, or you feel generally unwell or feverish afterwards.
- Do not drive yourself: ask someone to take you, or call 112.
Emergency staff are there to help, and you can ask for support with how you are feeling as well as with the injury.
How is self-harm treated?
The aim is to help with the feelings and difficulties behind the self-harm, not just the self-harm itself. Support usually includes:
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| Support | What it involves | Who provides it |
|---|---|---|
| An assessment | A conversation about your needs, risks and what would help | A doctor, then a mental health team |
| Talking therapy | Help to manage self-harm and the feelings behind it | A therapist or mental health service |
| Treatment for underlying conditions | Treatment for depression, anxiety or trauma | A doctor, including by video |
| Care for injuries | Treatment and advice for injuries | A doctor, pharmacist or emergency department |
| Self-help and support groups | Talking with others who understand, and listening services | Charities and helplines |
There is no quick fix, and nobody expects you to stop overnight. With support and treatment, things can get better.
What might the doctor recommend?
What happens next depends on your safety and what you need. This is the framework the doctors use:
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| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| An injury that is bleeding heavily, deep, or with loss of feeling | Emergency care | No | Call 112 now |
| Taken too much of any medicine or another substance | Emergency care, even if you feel fine | No | Call 112 now |
| Thoughts of ending your life that you might act on | Emergency help | No | Call 112 now |
| Self-harm with low mood, anxiety or overwhelming feelings | Treatment for these, and referral for talking therapy | Yes, to assess | For mental health services |
| Self-harm that is becoming more frequent or more serious | Urgent referral to mental health services | Yes, to assess | Urgently |
| A healing injury that you want checked | Advice on the injury, and a plan | Yes, to assess | If it looks infected or is not healing |
| Worried about someone who self-harms | Advice on how to support them | Yes | If they are injured: call 112 |
Want to talk to someone about self-harm? A doctor can listen and help you plan next steps in one consultation.
See available times →Getting support for self-harm
What you can do yourself
- Tell someone you trust how you are feeling, or contact a free, confidential listening service.
- Speak to a doctor about self-harm: it is a normal reason to see a doctor, and you will be taken seriously.
- Make a list of people and services you can contact when things feel overwhelming, and keep it on your phone.
- Get injuries checked, and look after your physical health.
- Look for a support group, in person or online, run by a mental health charity.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. There is no medicine for self-harm itself. When depression or anxiety is part of the picture, the doctor may prescribe treatment after a full assessment, chosen with your safety in mind and with close follow-up. Benzodiazepines and other controlled medicines are never prescribed online. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
What does not help
Being told to just stop, or having your choices taken away. Being called attention-seeking. Keeping it to yourself because you fear being judged: a doctor will listen and want to help.
Special situations
Supporting someone who self-harms
- Try to understand their feelings without judging them, rather than focusing on the self-harm.
- Ask how they would like to be supported, and remind them of their good qualities.
- Encourage them to speak to a doctor or a listening service, and get them medical help if they need it.
- Do not force them to change or threaten to take away their control, and never call them attention-seeking.
- Look after yourself too, and get support of your own.
After an emergency department visit
A follow-up matters. A doctor by video can check how you are, continue treatment for low mood or anxiety, and help with the next steps of a referral.
While travelling in Europe
In an emergency, call 112 anywhere in the EU. For everything else, a doctor by video can help wherever you are.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When self-harm is assessed online, and when you need in-person care
Assessed online: a first conversation without judgement, safety checks, treatment for low mood and anxiety, referral for talking therapy and mental health support, follow-up after an emergency, and advice for family and friends.
In-person care: injuries that need treatment, anything you have taken, assessment and therapy with mental health services, and any emergency.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- an injury that will not stop bleeding, is very large or deep, or with loss of feeling or movement
- having taken too much of any medicine or another substance, even if you feel fine
- thoughts of ending your life that you might act on
- feeling faint, very drowsy or confused after harming yourself
Get medical advice the same day for:
- an injury that is red, swollen, more painful or leaking pus, or a high temperature
- self-harm that is becoming more frequent or more serious
- thoughts of death without a plan to act on them
You can also find a free, confidential crisis helpline in your country at findahelpline.com.
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CEST. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about how you feel: share as much as you want to, say who you can turn to, and mention any medicines you take.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
If you are in danger now, call 112. Tick what you are going through to see each page that mentions it. A doctor can talk it through with you on a video call.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Not sure this is the right page? Look up any symptom in the full symptom checker, or book and describe it to a doctor.
Frequently asked questions about self-harm
What is self-harm?
Self-harm is when somebody intentionally damages or injures their body, usually as a way of coping with very difficult feelings. It is a sign of emotional distress, and help is available.
Why do people self-harm?
People self-harm to express or cope with emotional distress, to feel in control, or to show how bad things are. Stress, anxiety, depression, past trauma, and conditions such as ADHD or autism can all play a part. Reasons differ and can change over time.
Is self-harm attention-seeking?
No. Self-harm is a sign of distress, and calling it attention-seeking leaves people feeling judged and alone. Wanting your feelings to be taken seriously is not wrong.
Does self-harm mean someone is suicidal?
Not always: not everyone who self-harms wants to end their life. But there is a clear link with suicidal thoughts, so every episode deserves care, and anyone who might act on thoughts of suicide should call 112.
What are the signs that someone may be self-harming?
Signs that someone may be self-harming include unexplained injuries that they explain away, keeping their arms and legs covered even in warm weather, pulling away from friends and family, low mood, tearfulness or anger, saying they feel worthless or hopeless, changes in eating or sleeping, and losing interest in things they enjoyed. None of these proves it, and many people hide self-harm well. If you are worried, ask gently and without judgement, listen, and encourage them to talk to a doctor.
What should I do if I have hurt myself?
If you have hurt yourself, call 112 or go to an emergency department if bleeding will not stop, the injury is large or deep, or you have taken anything, even if you feel fine. Press on bleeding with a clean cloth while you get help, and see a doctor if an injury looks infected.
How can I stop self-harming?
You do not have to stop self-harming alone. Talk to someone you trust, speak to a doctor, and ask about talking therapy and treatment for what lies behind it. Support helps, and a setback does not undo the progress you have made.
What happens if I tell a doctor I self-harm?
If you tell a doctor you self-harm, the doctor listens without judgement, checks that you are safe and that any injury is cared for, and talks with you about support, such as talking therapy or a referral to mental health services. You will not be forced to promise anything.
Why is self-harm so hard to stop?
Self-harm often becomes a habit tied to overwhelming feelings, and guilt or shame afterwards add to the distress, so willpower alone rarely works. That is why support with the feelings behind it, from a doctor, a therapist or someone you trust, matters more than trying harder, and why a setback is not a failure.
Does self-harm stop?
Yes, for many people, especially with support. Self-harm often eases as the distress behind it is treated and as people find other ways to cope, though for some it comes and goes over years. Stopping is rarely a straight line: a setback after a stretch without self-harm does not undo the progress made, and the urges tend to become less frequent and less intense over time. Talking therapy, and treatment for depression, anxiety or trauma when they are present, make stopping more likely to last.
How can I help someone who self-harms?
Listen without judging, focus on how they feel rather than on the self-harm, ask how you can support them, and encourage them to see a doctor. Do not force them to stop. If they are injured or in danger, call 112.
Can an online doctor help with self-harm?
Yes, as a first step with self-harm when you are safe right now. A doctor can talk with you, check your safety, treat low mood or anxiety and refer you for support. Injuries, anything you have taken, and emergencies need in-person care.
- Self-harm, NHS, National Health Service (UK), accessed 15 October 2026.
- Why people self-harm, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 8 August 2023.
- Where to get help for self-harm, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 23 August 2023.
- How to help someone who self-harms, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 8 August 2023.
- About self-harm, Mind (UK), published August 2024.
- Suicide: fact sheet, WHO, World Health Organization, 28 August 2026.
- Poisoning, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 12 June 2025.
- Cuts and grazes, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 2 April 2026.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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