Self Injury Awareness Day tries to debunk myths around self-harm

St Patrick's Mental Health Services says people who self-harm are not seeking attention.

Today is International Self Injury Awareness Day.

Irish Women's Rugby international Hannah Tyrell yesterday addressed a conference on the issue, and spoke about her own battle with self-harm and mental health difficulties.

Counselling Psychologist with St Patrick's Mental Health Services, Dr Maria Leahy, says there are a lot of unhelpful stereotypes associated with self-harm.

Dr Leahy said: "One of the things we really try to debunk is this idea that it is attention-seeking.

"I mean sure there can be different functions for why people self-harm, but the underlying theme of that is that it is ultimately distress.

"So really that is the key theme I would focus on is that this person is clearly really distressed, let's get to the core of what the meaning is for that person."