Helplines in South Africa.

Struggling with self-harm? Get help from a hotline in South Africa

Sometimes your emotions may be so overwhelming that hurting yourself may feel like the only way to find relief. Whether you are self-harming at the moment, or you have thoughts about it, there are 5 helplines in South Africa that can help. If you relate to the following, reach out:

• Scratching, pinching, hitting yourself
• Not wanting to die, but still feeling like you need the pain
• A desire to punish or hurt yourself
• Searching for ways to self-harm
• Feeling like you need a physical release for your emotions
• Feeling like self-harm is the only thing keeping you going
• Looking for a way to escape the emotional pain
• Feeling like your emotions are too difficult or overwhelming to deal with

Since self-harm provides immediate, in-the-moment relief from painful emotions, it’s easy to become reliant on it as your go-to coping mechanism. Stopping may seem impossible and you may be ashamed to even talk about it. However, self-harm is more common than you think. Many people struggle to manage intense emotions.

Talking about difficult emotions with someone compassionate and non-judgemental may help lighten your burdens. There are dedicated helpline volunteers in South Africa who are trained to support people through emotional distress. A helpline volunteer can help you process complex feelings and introduce you to healthy coping tools at your own discretion.

For free and confidential support with self harm, consider contacting a hotline in South Africa today.