Enacted Restoration of Selfhood: A Kierkegaardian Perspective on Self-harm Among People with Mental Illness

Abstract Non-suicidal self-harm, particularly the phenomenon of cutting, is gaining increasing academic attention. However, most existing literature approaches this topic from clinical, cultural, or historical perspectives, often neglecting an in-depth exploration of the lived experiences of individuals engaging in self-harm. Notably, within the context of mental illnesses, self-harm is often viewed merely as a symptomatic behavior and consequently addressed solely through symptomatic treatments. This article draws on data from the first and last authors’ extensive projects focusing on individuals living with mental illnesses in Denmark. Over a period of four years, we closely followed 19 participants (in two different projects) in various aspects of their daily lives, including periods of hospitalization. The article also includes uncensured images of self-harm, provided by participants with their permission to publish. We aim to underscore self-harm not only as the experiential nexus of a complex relationship between the body and the world but also as a mechanism for overcoming the self. Drawing inspiration from Kierkegaard’s reflections on selfhood and despair, we propose the concept of ‘enacted selfhood’ as an analytical framework for comprehending self-harm among individuals living with mental illness.