Self-Injury Awareness Day is an international holiday aimed at raising public awareness of the problem of self-harm. This practice involves self-injury, which may or may not be related to suicidal tendencies. In any case, self-harm is a psychological disorder, and such people need help from psychologists and treatment. The holiday is annually on March 1.
History
Self-Injury Awareness Day is supported by many adolescent and adult psychological support organizations, including those that specifically specialize in self-harm (e.g., Sociedad Internacional de Autolesión).
Self-injury often includes cutting, pulling hair, and reopening wounds. Less frequently, cases involve impact injuries and the use of open flames for burns. The aim of such actions is often an attempt to dull psychological pain with physical pain. As a rule, this practice is resorted to by people with unstable psyches: former military personnel, teenagers subjected to bullying and abuse, children from boarding schools, and inmates in prisons.
Such people need comprehensive help, which begins with an examination by psychologists. The internal reason for self-harm must be found and eliminated. Treating physical damage without addressing the true cause of the problem will be ineffective.
Interesting facts
- Psychologists say that in the vast majority of cases, if psychological help is not provided in a timely manner to people suffering from self-inflicted injuries, patients increasingly have suicidal thoughts.
- To support Self-Injury Awareness Day, it is customary to wear an orange ribbon on your clothing, draw a butterfly on your wrist, or write the word LOVE.
- The urge to self-harm is curable. The main condition is to eliminate the psychological trigger that causes a person to suppress it by inflicting physical harm.
How to celebrate
Provide financial support to organizations that address self-harm. If any of your family and friends suffer from such a problem, don’t ignore them. Help arrange treatment. Pin an orange ribbon on your clothes on Self-Injury Awareness Day and draw a butterfly on your wrist.
Spread the word on social media. Ask other users if they have experienced self-harm in their lives.
When is Self-Injury Awareness Day in 2025?
Self-Injury Awareness Day is associated with the anticipation of happiness and joy. It is observed on March 1st each year.
Observations
| Weekday | Month | Day | Year |
| Saturday | March | 1 | 2025 |
| Sunday | March | 1 | 2026 |
| Monday | March | 1 | 2027 |
| Wednesday | March | 1 | 2028 |
| Thursday | March | 1 | 2029 |
