See Me Campaign: Do Not Turn a Blind Eye and a Deaf Ear to Self-Harm

This is an initiative to draw attention to the issue of self harm. Self-Harm is most often misunderstood, but beneath the veneer lies troubled emotions, that need support, help and above all, understanding. According to a recent survey, nearly 50% of Scottish adults do not know how to help a person who self-harms.

The "see me" campaign research has brought certain thought provoking statistics to the fore - that nearly 41% of adults conclude that the young people who causes themselves harm are merely seeking attention, while 34% conclude that these demonstrations are just manipulative tendencies.

Campaign director Linda Dunion has stated that it is about time, these sentiments of "secrecy and shame" be replaced with "understanding and support".

A 2002 study conducted by researchers from Oxford University revealed that one among 10 ten teenagers cause harm to them. The "see me" initiative combines the collective effort of five mental health groups, emphasizing the importance of encouraging and supporting the emotionally disturbed "youths" as against stigmatizing them during a vulnerable phase.

When 1000 adults were surveyed, it was observed that nearly one third of the adults felt that self-harm was just a phase that young people go through which they would most certainly grow out of, while 15% construed it as a failed suicide attempt.

Ms Dunion said the research has certainly laid emphasis on the significance of knowledge and understanding about ways to deal with self-harm. In her words, "Stigma against people who self-harm is discouraging young people from getting the help they need. It is time to stop passing judgment and start understanding that self-harm is a response to underlying problems."

Scottish Executive is funding this campaign, to be included as a part of its national agenda to elevate the mental level of the Scots.