Northeast Health Services is dedicated to supporting your mental health. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, we encourage you to reach out for immediate support through your local crisis services by dialing 988, contacting your local emergency services, or visiting your local emergency room.
When you’re navigating the weight of depression, it can feel like you’re alone in a world that doesn’t understand. And when that pain becomes overwhelming, it’s not uncommon for some to seek out self-harm as a way to cope. But there’s hope—and help. Northeast Health Services (NEHS) offers depression counseling and other supportive therapies to help you find relief, healing, and a path forward. Whether you’re looking for care for yourself or someone you care about, reaching out can be the first step in getting the support you deserve.
NEHS is proud to serve our communities throughout Massachusetts with treatment on your terms. Call 508.794.8711 today to learn more or schedule an appointment.
What to know about the link between depression and self-harm
Depression and self-harm often go hand in hand. For many, depression can bring a deep sense of emotional numbness or internal pain. In those moments, self-harm may feel like the only outlet for emotions that are too difficult to name or express. Though it may bring temporary relief, it doesn’t address the root of the pain, and it can create long-term physical and emotional scars.
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is most prevalent among adolescents and young adults, with lifetime prevalence rates ranging from 15% to 20%. Onset commonly occurs around the ages of 13 or 14. In comparison, approximately 6% of adults report having a history of NSSI. Many individuals who engage in NSSI are also struggling with untreated severe depression. Alarmingly, NSSI is an even stronger predictor of future suicide attempts than a prior history of such attempts, underscoring the critical need for intervention and support.1
Understanding the relationship between depression and self-harm is integral to helping yourself—or someone you care about—start the healing process.
What are the signs of severe depression?
Recognizing the signs of severe depression can help prevent harmful behaviors before they escalate. While everyone experiences depression differently, some of the more serious symptoms can include:
- Feeling hopeless, worthless, or like a burden to others
- Losing interest in things that once brought joy
- Withdrawing from friends, family, or daily routines
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Noticeable changes in appetite
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Thoughts of self-harm or dying by suicide
These symptoms are a sign that support is needed—urgently. The earlier someone receives care, the better the chances are for managing depression symptoms in healthier, more sustainable ways.
What are the dangers of untreated depression?
Leaving depression unaddressed can impact nearly every part of a person’s life, from their physical health to their relationships and long-term safety. When depression goes untreated:
- It can increase the risk of self-harm and suicide.
- It may worsen chronic health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes.
- It can lead to substance use as a way to self-medicate.
- It may cause challenges in work, school, and family life.
Untreated depression doesn’t just affect the individual. It involves the people around them, too. That’s why early intervention and consistent care are key. Therapy and psychiatric support can make a world of difference.
Why do people struggling with depression turn to self-harm?
Self-harm is never about “attention” or drama—it’s a coping mechanism. People who self-harm are often trying to:
- Express emotional pain they don’t know how to articulate
- Interrupt dissociative episodes or numbness
- Regain a sense of control
- Punish themselves due to low self-worth
Self-harm is a broad term that encompasses any behavior where a person deliberately causes harm to themselves, regardless of intent. This can include actions like substance abuse or reckless behavior. On the other hand, NSSI refers explicitly to intentional, self-inflicted harm to one’s body without the intent to cause death. Examples of NSSI include cutting, burning, or scratching oneself. While all NSSI is a form of self-harm, not all self-harm behaviors fall under the category of NSSI.
Understanding this distinction doesn’t mean condoning the behavior, but allows loved ones and medical professionals to meet people where they are, with compassion. At Northeast Health Services, we approach these conversations with empathy and care, creating space for healing and trust.
How counseling can help in managing depression symptoms
Therapy can be a life-changing resource for those living with depression and self-harming behaviors. Through evidence-based techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and other person-centered modalities, patients can:
- Build healthier coping skills to replace self-harming behaviors
- Learn to regulate emotions and develop resilience
- Process trauma or life stressors contributing to depression
- Improve self-esteem and rebuild a sense of purpose
At Northeast Health Services, our therapists offer a range of approaches to fit your needs—CBT, DBT, and beyond. What matters most is feeling heard, understood, and supported in your care. Whether you’re engaging in therapy in person or through our secure telehealth services, you’ll work with a provider who prioritizes treatment that supports you.
We also offer psychiatric medication management for clients who may benefit from a holistic care plan. For those with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), we offer innovative interventional treatments like NeuroStar® transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy and Spravato®—available at select NEHS locations across Massachusetts.
Connect with Northeast Health Services and discover how professional help can help manage depression
Struggling with depression and self-harm doesn’t define who you are—it simply means you’re human, and you deserve help. At Northeast Health Services, our therapists and psychiatric providers are here to walk beside you through each step. NEHS is here to help you manage your mental health. Call 508.794.8711 today to learn more or schedule an appointment.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your mental health journey, click here to reach out to our team of empathetic mental health care experts. For existing clients, please click here and find your office location to contact your office directly.
Footnote: