To think people should think about their actions?

[BoomKat13]

I really don't get why people think it's ok to cause someone such severe mental distress that they're starting to self harm again? My friend with mental health problems is now having those problems used against her with added verbal abuse. This has caused her to start cutting herself again as it's triggered traumatic memories for her. It's not only her that ends up suffering, but also those of us who try to be there for her but can't do much due to our own lives. Why can't people just keep their nastiness to themselves and keep their mouths shut?

Much as whatever they're doing is unpleasant, you really can't lay the fault at the door of someone else for this reaction.

Your friend is going to come across unpleasant situations and people and she would be best off learning coping techniques. These include distraction techniques:

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/self-harm/helping-yourself-now/#distracting

Does she have mental health support and could you contact the crisis team if you're seriously concerned?

She's on a waiting list that is minimum a year long. A page on the Mind website isn't going to help when someone's traumatic memories of rape and physical abuse are triggered. I don't get how it's her fault for reacting this way to repeated insults? Now I'm left to try and clean up the mess these people have made.

I'm not saying that it's her fault, but you can't control how other people behave, only how you react to it. The techniques on the Mind page are ones which are designed to help distract from the triggering memories.

Is this happening IRL? Is it something that the police might view as harassment and be worth reporting?

Rape Crisis have a helpline, in picture attached. They have just closed but it might be worth her calling tomorrow.

I assume that she is on a waiting list for counselling. If she is actively self harming she needs to see her GP ASAP and ask to be referred to the community mental health team who will be able to give her more immediate support.