By Viviana Sanchez
What is self-harm?
Self-harm is a misunderstood phenomenon that is heavily prevalent in adolescents and young adults, with an estimated lifetime incidence of 16.9% (Gillies et al., 2018). The numbers increase significantly for victims of sex trafficking, where rates of self-harm have been reported as high as 33% (Borschmann et al., 2017).
Self-harm is intentional harm to one’s own body. It can look like, but not be limited to, behaviors like cutting or burning, but it is distinct from suicidal behavior because there is not necessarily an intent to die.
At first, it might be difficult to understand why someone would engage in self-harm. However, there is a deeper emotional reason. For many, self-harm becomes a way to cope with overwhelming negative feelings, unresolved trauma, or a coping mechanism that serves to regain a sense of control over one’s body. This is important to consider for sex trafficked survivors because they experience exploitation, and their sense of autonomy is taken away.
There are also harmful misconceptions about people who self-harm. One belief is that it is an attention-seeking behavior. However, most people will go to great lengths to hide it by covering their bodies and avoiding situations where people might notice. Rather than assuming self-harm is purely about attention-seeking, a more helpful way to think about it is as a signal for help and an opportunity to offer support instead of judgment (Caicedo & Whitlock, 2009).
Another misconception related to self-harm is that it is primarily associated with certain groups, like alternative subcultures (e.g., gothic, emo; Caicedo & Whitlock, 2009). People who self-harm come from all backgrounds, from all socioeconomic levels, from every profession in between, and from all communities.
A final harmful perception is that all individuals could stop if they really wanted to (Caicedo & Whitlock, 2009). Though for some, self-harm could develop into a pattern that feels addictive. So, for these reasons, it is imperative that we support and advocate for our loved ones who may be struggling with self-harm.
Why It Matters
For self-harm awareness month, this blog addresses the struggles and stigma of self-harm, including those among survivors of sex trafficking. Survivors experience coercion and loss of control over their bodies. Self-harm can emerge as a way to regain control or express pain that survivors are unable to put into words. Stigma and misunderstanding can make healing more difficult and prevent people from seeking help. Spreading awareness and showing compassion are ways advocates can help reduce stigma and support survivors.
What the research says:
Trauma and self-harm: Researchers found that a history of childhood trauma is positively correlated with self-harm (van Schie et al., 2024).
Complex trauma: Survivors of trafficking experience complex mental health issues, including PTSD, dissociation, and emotional dysregulation, all of which increase vulnerability to self-harm (Brockdorf et al., 2023).
Stigma and healing: Stigma about self-injury has serious psychological consequences. Individuals report experiencing both internalized shame and external judgement, which discourages them from seeking help and makes them also feel further isolated and misunderstood (Lewis et al., 2025).
Compassionate Support & Reflection
If someone you care about is struggling with self-harm, compassionate support is just what they need. In the moment, it might feel difficult to know how to respond, but these small actions can help reduce stigma and create space for healing.
Educate yourself: Learning about self-harm and the role trauma plays will reduce misconceptions.
Listen: If a loved one shares their struggles with you, this is a powerful and underrated response. Try not to rush to fix the problem
Avoid Blaming or Shaming: We want to combat internal shame by responding in a nonjudgmental and compassionate way
Offer Support: People benefit from both personal and professional help, so encouraging professional support as well will give them the best possible support system to overcome their challenges.
Reflection questions:
· What small changes could we make in the way we respond to others that could reduce stigma around trauma and self-harm?
· If someone trusted you enough to talk about their struggles, what kind of response would help them feel heard and supported?
References
Borschmann, R., Oram, S., Kinner, S. A., Dutta, R., Zimmerman, C., & Howard, L. M. (2017). Self-harm among adult victims of human trafficking who accessed secondary mental health
services in England. Psychiatric Services, 68(2), 207–210. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201500509
Brockdorf, A. N., Gratz, K. L., Messman, T. L., & DiLillo, D. (2023). Trauma symptoms and deliberate self-harm among sexual violence survivors: Examining state emotion regulation and reactivity as dual mechanisms. Psychology of Violence, 13(1), 23–33. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000432
Caicedo, S. & Whitlock, J.L. (2009). Top misconceptions about self-injury. Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery. https://www.selfinjury.bctr.cornell.edu/perch/resources/15-misconceptionsenglish-4.pdf
Gillies, D., Christou, M. A., Dixon, A. C., Featherston, O. J., Rapti, I., Garcia-Anguita, A., Villasis-Keever, M., Reebye, P., Christou, E., Al Kabir, N., & Christou, P. A. (2018). Prevalence and characteristics of self-harm in adolescents: Meta-analyses of community-based studies 1990-2015. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 57(10), 733–741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2018.06.018
Lewis, S. P., Collaton, J., Pugh, R. L., Heath, N. L., & Whitley, R. (2025). The lived experience of self-injury stigma and its psychosocial impact: a thematic analysis. BMC psychology, 13(1), 563. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02664-6
van Schie, C., Gallagher, R., & Krause-Utz, A. (2024). Exploring the complex relationship between childhood trauma and self-harm. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 33(6), 685–703. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2024.2303525
Counselors Against Sex Trafficking 