Today I have read a news report about hospitals, doctors and police preparing themselves for the outcome of football matches in the Euro 2008. There was a list of things that they are expecting to happen such as; cardiac arrest, domestic violence, drink driving etc. Near the end of the list of things to be expected was self harm and suicide. This is the first time I have ever seen self harm being mentioned briefly, or recognised in a report about something else.
Me personally, I was very surprised at seeing self harm being mentioned on the list. I have very mixed feelings about seeing this, on the first hand it is wonderful that self harm awareness has reached to the media to such a point of it being mentioned up there with depression, cardiac arrest, drink driving etc. I cannot explain my other feelings, except maybe it might lead to self harm being glamourised or being advertised as a good thing.
So, self harm mentioned breifly in a news report, overall is it a good thing or a bad thing? If I am honest with myself I would vote for good. What about anyone else?
crushed_butterfly
the wounds heal, the pain gets bearable, scars fade, but YOU NEVER FORGET
I think it's good it's just mentioned in a list of stuff 'cos it shows they are accepting it as a problem, that is as 'normal' or as common as things like heart attacks/binge drinking etc.
Big articles about self harm on it's own is needed too, but adding it to lists such as these and being mentioned in passing in a news report shows it's not tabboo-ed like it used to be.
Does this make sense?! Basically, Yes it's good.
x
Are we demented or am I disturbed?
The space that's in between insane and insecure...
To be honest it's neither good nor bad. It all depends on peoples views on self harm being mentioned.
I don't think it either due to the fact it's not something that can be put off or isn't allowed to be mentioned on TV or in the street.
There are lots of things people do and do not want to hear, but nobody knows what people don't want to hear unless they say so, and there are lots of members of the public and not enough people or time to ask them all.
I think it's a bit indifferent in that sense. The report gave a list of problems the hospital was expecting to encounter, and nothing else. Without any more depth it remains 'a mention', and it's equally as 'good or bad' as the mention of cardiac arrest.
Interesting that they expect SH has a result of Euro 2008 though. I think that shows some people have problems beyond the fact that they choose to cut themselves to deal with it...
Perhaps winning or losing at football is going to be the trigger for someone hurting themselves... I dunno, maybe it was all they had to hold onto and then their team lost and it tipped them to SI. I don't know - just a guess!
Remember anything can cause someone to SI, might not be the route cause, or the biggest thing, but kind of the straw that broke the donkey's back. I know just dropping a plate or something when I'm having a bad day can make me want to SI.
Everyone is different!
x
Are we demented or am I disturbed?
The space that's in between insane and insecure...
I guess if people's lives are so invested in football and competitiveness and the sense of identity involved, then those results could be understandable.
Myself, who's no interest whatsoever in football, finds it hard to see - until I look at possible underlying issues, as I've listed above.
I'd far rather though that those things, including self harm etc, were 'publicised' in contexts such as the consequence of bullying, abuse, living with parents who're involved in domestic violence, and so forth. But any recognition, in a non-judgemental context, is better than none. I feel.
I'd far rather though that those things, including self harm etc, were 'publicised' in contexts such as the consequence of bullying, abuse, living with parents who're involved in domestic violence, and so forth. But any recognition, in a non-judgemental context, is better than none. I feel.
I totally agree on your point. I think that it is good that self harm is coming into the limelight, I suppose a lot of people can say how can a football team cause it, but anything can from abuse, sense of failure, to football teams losing or bands spliting up.
I suppose that with everything once it is mentioned then it will become something that is accepted, and not tutted at. But as for Stellata comment it is a valid point. As people who do not self harm may read the article and could make assumptions that it is all for attention as they do not know the root cause and why it is being done. There does need to be more attention on the reasons that start it all of.
crushed_butterfly
the wounds heal, the pain gets bearable, scars fade, but YOU NEVER FORGET
