Is self-harm purely attention seeking behaviour?

[Gawping_fish]

I was just wondering whether anyone felt that people only self-harm to get attention. Even if they hide it from everyone is that still the case? or is it curiosity? or do people JUST do it to cope?
i've been thinking maybe its an unconscious thing in people that makes them start.... even if they think they're doing it because they feel its the only way to cope or because physical pain is better than mental pain, do you think deep down they really want someone to see the scars and realise that they're having problems??

 

[BeccaM1]

NO! some people just do it to cope! some people do do it just to get attention but some of the time the person is actually hurting and needs help. even if they want you to see sometimes its best f u do, because then you can get them help

 

[Mina]

Self-harm is a coping skill. People who do it often have deep-seated emotional problems caused by severe depression, mental illness, or emotional trauma.

Self-injury is addicting, and once people start they often find it hard or impossible to stop. This is similar to alcoholics and drug addicts. Cutters only feel "okay" or "right" when they're cutting.

Unsuccessful suicide attempts however, or often cries for help. While cutters will often hide the evidence and do it in secret, somebody who attempts suicide in a place where they can be found, using a way that is not guaranteed to work, often needs serious help and is has made the attempt as a cry for help, whether conscious or unconscious.

 

[Summie]

I know people who have done it just to tell others(AKA, attention) and obviously weren't using it to cope with any pain, just wanted attention or sympathy. But I also know people who never told a soul, nor wanted anyone to find out.
Most do it for attention, in this day and age, but some do it out of their own problems and pain.