I'm scared if I tell someone I self harm, they'll think I want to commit suicide and send me to the hospital. Could this happen?
34 Answers
Last Updated: 09/29/2020 at 12:16pm
Moderated by
Alex DS Ellis, MA, LMFT
Marriage & Family Therapist
Feeling depressed or anxious can be so overwhelming. I want to help you feel better and be able to enjoy life. You are not alone and you deserve emotional support.
Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
March 15th, 2016 8:05pm
It depends on where you live but yes in some places if you tell someone at school some schools send you straight to the hospital
Anonymous
August 2nd, 2016 11:15pm
No! Don't worry, Self-harm is a way of coping to prevent suicide. Telling someone is the first step to recovery and getting better!!
It's understandable to worry about this, however self harm is completely different to wanting to complete suicide and people should understand that, especially professionals such as doctors or therapists.
Anonymous
September 29th, 2020 12:16pm
No, self-harm is not reason enough to hospitalize someone. Anyone able to send you to the hospital will know that self-harm is not proof that someone is suicidal. They can be linked, but there are plenty of people who self-harm who would never take their own lives.
Hospitalization is a last-resort that any credible mental health professional would only use if he or she felt that a patient would die if such a drastic measure were not taken. It is not something they take lightly. Oh yes, that is another thing: to my knowledge, in the US, only a mental health professional has the ability to have you involuntarily committed (but please research your own state/country for more information).
In summary, you will not be hospitalized for self-harm alone. If you need help, please reach out!
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