Types of harm

Harm is any harmful conduct.

Some examples of this are:

• Physical: hitting, slapping, pushing, shaking, being locked in a room against your will
• Psychological: threats of harm, being isolated, humiliation, intimidation, causing distress, verbal abuse, bullying, blaming, constant criticism, controlling, depriving contact with others
• Neglect/Self-Neglect: failure to provide or access medical or physical care, access to a doctor or other services the person may need, denying someone medication, food or heating, privacy or dignity
• Self-Harm: refusal to eat or drink, drug/alcohol misuse, cutting, burning, scalding or hitting parts of own body, calculated and dangerous risk taking, banging head or other parts of the body, swallowing harmful substances, overdosing
• Financial: stealing, fraud, pressure to hand over or sign over property or money, misuse of property or welfare benefits, or stopping someone getting their money or possessions
• Sexual: any sexual activity that a person doesn’t understand and/or want, which includes contact that is made through social media