This report highlights that stigma has the power to silence, shame, and push those who struggle with self-harm into secrecy. It found that people started to self-harm as young as four-years-old, with others self-harming for over 50 years, showing that supports and coping mechanisms need to be aimed towards all age groups. It laid bare the disconnect between participants’ willingness to help someone who self-harms and their actual behaviour, and showed how people who self-harm believe others have a lower opinion of them. A total of 769 adults from across the island of Ireland took part in the research, with input from people with lived experience, their loved ones or caregivers, healthcare professionals, and members of the public with no connection to the issue. It revealed people would remove themselves from everyday scenarios to avoid someone who self-harmed - for example car sharing, new relationships, employment - and how people who self-harm believed others had a lower opinion of them, including healthcare professionals. 

Key findings included: 

• While 77% of all participants would be willing to ‘help’ someone who self-harmed, 64% would not carpool and 56% would not rent an apartment to them.
• Some reported self-harming from as young as four-years-old, and others not starting until they were 50.
• The majority of those who self-harmed reported their self-harming behaviours lasted an average of 13 years, while others struggled with it for a lifetime.
• Family, friends and caregivers felt most impacted by their own thoughts and emotions related to someone who self-harms.
• The portrayal of self-harm in the media, film and TV significantly impacts society’s perception of the issue.
• Professionals believe they provide warm and understanding care to patients, despite some individuals expressing the oppositive view.
• Nearly 90% of those who self-harm think others will have a lower opinion of them. 

Of those with no lived experience of self-harm: 

• Over 50% would not enter a new relationship if they saw visible signs of self-harm, while 30% said it would impact on their willingness to hire someone.
• 80% felt they could not speak to their employer about self-harm for fear of judgment or stigma, including mental health professionals.
• 71% had observed/encountered, in passing, someone they believed may self-harm.
• 42% said knowing about or seeing visible signs of self-harm would impact their perception of someone.
• However, 76% said they would feel comfortable if a close friend or family member confided they self-harmed.