How do I help my friend that is cutting himself?

Having been a cutter, I would say support him and do not judge. To cutters cutting is often a way to realize the stress as most of us were not taught healthy coping mechanisms. I personally took years to learn that hurting myself does not solve other people's problems but the simple fact of the matter is we are hurting and so much so that the cutting hurts less. Your friend is most probably not suicidal as most cutters are not but just listen to him and support him. Cutting while not a societal norm has occurred for centuries as another way to cope. It takes years to learn how to cope because most cutters do not come from healthy backgrounds. If you have trouble understanding this think of yourself as being invisible hurting so much that there is no way to deal with it but to release the pain, cutting provides a temporary release. Telling them to go into to counseling or leaving them for dead only makes things worse, as we often feel unloved. Cutters need to be loved and understood not judged IN truth not medication ever helped me. Sometimes, I did cut too deep and actually did need help so look out for that but help our friend and do not approach it like a problem or it will just perpetuate the issue. Cutters are not looking for attention, or necessarily, a way out, they are simply trying to find a way to hurt less. Yes, life is hard but if you do not have the copping skills cutting is a temporary solution. TEMPORARY is the key, due to the act that those that cut long term do cut to deep or leave embarrassing scars. I can honestly say that if I had one person who loved me despite it, it would not go on so long. Just remember cutting is a release not just a self-destructive activity, we need help but love and understanding help more then ostracizing and judging, that just seems to perpetuate the problem.