The 1st of March is Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD) around the world. It's a time to help raise awareness about self-injury and self-harm. If you or someone you know has been affected by self-injury or self-harm wear an orange ribbon today. Like last year, I wear a ribbon myself.
SIAD is still a grassroots annual global awareness event / campaign even it has been running for many years. On this day, and in the weeks leading up to it, some people choose to be more open about their own self-harm. The goal of the people who observe SIAD is to break down the common stereotypes surrounding self-harm and to educate people about the condition.
Surprisingly many people self-harm. Many self-injurers hide it because they may feel ashamed, alone and scared. Many may think it is a suicide attempt but it's not. It's more like a coping strategy to help them cope with difficult feelings. In some cases some may cut for attention but often cutting is a cry for help.
What can you do on Self-Injury Awareness Day is to reach out to someone: if someone you know self-harms, if someone who’s dealing with self-harm or someone who has dealt with self-harm or if you self-harm. Don’t judge people who self-harm but try to help and understand them.
It helps to know that help is available. All you need to do is to ask for it. People around you are always there to help you.
So remember wear orange to spread some awareness on Self-Injury Awareness Day, March 1st.
For more information, please read my last year’s post about this, here.
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