Self-harm is one of the most difficult things for a parent to understand and respond to. To find out that a child you would do anything to protect from harm is actually harming themselves is devastating. The intensity of the emotions they are feeling, and the sense of being out of control adds to this. It can be hard not to panic. This guide will help parents to make sense of the many emotions they are feeling as they try to understand what is going on, to process the emotions their child is feeling and to help them to start thinking about recovery.