I see it as a way of actualizing mental pain so that it can be dealt with/recovered from - a cut releases the pain and when it heals we feel a part of that mental pain has been healed too.

The problem as i've discovered is that it doesn't actually heal the pain, it just helps to blind it from my view for a little while until something causes it to resurface.

I think self harm should be talked about more. I mean it has a different meaning for everyone but there needs to be a greater understanding of it's role as a coping mechanism across all ages and diversities of people.