Self harm, also called self-injury, is the act of deliberately harming your own body, such as cutting or burning yourself. It’s typically not meant as a suicide attempt, rather it is primarily a coping strategy and can provide a release from emotional distress and enable an individual to regain feelings of control. In the majority of cases, self harm is a very private act and individuals can go to great lengths to hide scars and bruises and will often try to address physical injuries themselves rather than seek medical treatment.