Calm Harm - manages self harm

Zift Advisory

Calm Harm is an app that provides tasks to help users resist or manage the urge to self-harm. Developed by a renowned clinical psychologist, Calm Harm also allows users to track progress and notice changes in behaviors. Rated for users of all ages, is free to download, does not feature an in-app advertisements or purchases and is safe for kids.

About Calm Harm - manages self harm

What is Calm Harm - manages self harm?

Calm Harm is an app that provides tasks to help users resist or manage the urge to self-harm. Developed by a renowned clinical psychologist for the teen mental health charity, stem4, Calm Harm also allows users to track progress and notice changes in behaviors.

Rated for users of all ages, Calm Harm is free to download and does not feature an in-app advertisements or purchases.

Calm Harm works by offering six separate categories of tasks for users to manage the urge to self-harm. Task categories include: Distract, Comfort, Express Yourself, Release, Random, and Breathe.

Tasks are offered in 5 or 15 minute blocks of time, which are shown with visual counters, so users are able to track their block as it counts down.

The Comfort category includes tasks that offer ideas for self-care instead of self-harm. Some task suggestions under the Comfort category include:

Stick a bandaid to where you want to hurt yourself to remind yourself that you are letting yourself heal
Stick some fake tattoos where you hurt yourself. Remind yourself to do one comforting thing every time you see them.

The Distract category helps users manage self-control, while Express Yourself provides suggestions to get feelings out in different or alternate ways, and Release gives users safe alternatives to self-injury.

While the task suggestions may not be the most eloquently written and some may seem downright hokey, user reviews are overly positive for the Calm Harm app. Perhaps the best review of the app is as follows:

“It’s great! I honestly didn’t think this would work. But after trying it, my urge to self-harm started to decrease. And in all seriousness the app isn’t the only thing that helped me. When I saw how many downloads there were on this app I immediately didn’t feel as alone. This app has helped me so much and I’m glad I got it.”

Is Calm Harm - manages self harm safe for my kids?

Parents should know that the Calm Harm app is an innovative tool to provide alternatives to self harm anywhere their child goes.

Developed by clinical psychologist, Dr. Nihara Krause, Calm Harm uses an evidence-based treatment method called Dialectic Behavior Therapy to offer alternatives to self-harm urges.

This app is safe for kids but if you are aware that your child is considering self harm, you should open a dialogue with your child to discuss healthier alternatives such as this app. Parents can also monitor their child's phone usage with Zift.

Parents should know that Calm Harm is password-protected, allowing the user privacy with the app.

However, password protection also means that parents are not privy to the information stored within the Calm Harm app, specifically progress reports regarding their child.

Calm Harm’s password-protection also means that children who are hiding self-injury from their parents, but using the app to attempt to manage self-harm, are able to continue keeping their secret from their parents.

It’s important to note that many users have expressed dissatisfaction with the password element of the Calm Harm app saying that it’s counter-intuitive to the app’s purpose.

Citing forgotten passwords and the added frustrations and charged emotions that accompany it as well as an inability to get into the app immediately when needed.