Nia, Libby and Abigail are not alone. They all belong to an internet support group that has gone from 30 members five years ago to over 20,000 today.

There are no experts, no psychiatrists, doctors or counsellors on the site. Ash, now 21 and a talented musician and singer, is a recovered self-harmer and was one of the original moderators on the site.

In her words: 'It's a battle against yourself. How much can I damage my body without damaging it irreparably? Sometimes it's easier to accept help from someone who has gone through what you have been through.'

There is no easy way to stop cutting and everyone has to make his or her own journeys. The creator of Recover Your Life, 23-year-old Harley Molesworth explains: 'The site isn't about fixing self-harmers, it's about making people feel comfortable whatever they choose.'