self-harm

[self-hahrm]

noun

1. Formerly self-mutilation. Also called self-injury. deliberate nonsuicidal injury to one’s own body tissue, as cutting or burning the skin, or pulling out hair, in a physical manifestation of emotional distress.

   Self-harm, eating disorders, and substance abuse were reported among victims of bullying.

verb (used without object)

1. to hurt oneself deliberately, without suicidal intention, as a physical manifestation of emotional distress.

   I self-harm to release the anxiety, but then I feel so much shame that I have to self-harm again to relieve that.

self-harm

noun

1. the practice of cutting or otherwise wounding oneself, usually considered as indicating psychological disturbance

Other Word Forms

• self-harming noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of self-harm¹

First recorded in 1610–20 self-harm for def. 1 and in 1940–45 self-harm for def. 2; self- ( def. ) + harm ( def. )

Example Sentences

All of the platforms often failed to recognize signs of mental-health conditions, including descriptions of hallucinations, paranoid thinking, disordered-eating behaviors, manic symptoms, self-harm and depressive symptoms.

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A spokeswoman for Meta Platforms said the study was conducted before the company introduced updates to make its AI safer for teens, especially regarding topics of self-harm, suicide and eating disorders.

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The report suggests that of 45 self-harm events involving the unidentified young woman, 27 do not appear on the risk management system, including the attempt to harm herself using a bin bag.

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OpenAI has also introduced parental controls that allow parents to restrict the nature of conversations their children can have with the bot and to receive emergency notifications if their children ask ChatGPT about suicide or self-harm.

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Dr Ougrin says the transcripts appear to show ChatGPT encouraging an exclusive relationship that marginalises family and other forms of support, which are vital in protecting young people from self-harm and suicidal ideation.

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