Suicide vs. Self-Injury: Most self-injurers do not harm themselves with the intention of committing suicide. Conversely, they see self-mutilation as a way of keeping themselves alive. Self-harm, for those who do it, is often a method of coping with emotional stress.
Warning Signs: Though self-injury is characterized as an attention-seeking behavior, this is a falsehood. Most self-injurers take great pains to hide their scars and rarely seek medical attention. People who self-injure often avoid situations in which they are expected to wear revealing clothing (e.g., pool parties), and may have frequent stories about accidentally hurting themselves.
