Self-harm is usually attention-seeking behaviour. UNTRUE:
Most people who self-harm do so in private and try to keep it from friends and family. They tend to have very low self-esteem and so are likely to need more care and attention, not less.

Self-harm is rather like being naughty. People who do it can simply stop if they choose. UNTRUE:
People who self-harm often do so because they can see no other way of dealing with unbearable feelings. They may need to find appropriate support and more positive ways of coping with distress before they are able to stop.

The extent of the problem can be measured by the seriousness of the self-harm. UNTRUE:
People who harm themselves only slightly may be as deeply distressed as those who inflict much greater damage. Any case of self-harm should be regarded as a serious warning sign that a person is struggling with problems that seem almost overwhelming.

People who self-harm won't actually commit suicide. UNTRUE:
The link between self-harm and suicide is a strong one. The Samaritans have estimated that the risk of dying from suicide is 100 times greater for people who self-harm than for the general population.