talking about self harm

1. talking about self harm

2. Defining Self harm • When some people feel sad, desperate, angry or confused, they can hurt themselves. This is called ‘self-harm’. • People can do this in a number of ways and for different reasons. • People who harm themselves on more than one occasion may do so for a different reason each time. They may also harm themselves and not tell anyone about it NICE Guidance on Self Harm (2004)

3. truth hurts Young people who self-harm do so because they have no other way of coping with problems and emotional distress in their lives…. It provides only temporary relief and does not deal with the underlying issues.’ Truth Hurts, Mental Health Foundation (2006) http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/truth-hurts-report1/

4. 3 in 4 young people don’t know where to turn to talk about self-harm • A third of parents would not seek professional help if their child was self-harming • Almost half GPs feel that they don’t understand young people who self-harm and their motivations • 2 in 3 teachers don’t know what to say to young people who self-harm Talking self harm YoungMinds/Cello (2012) http://www.cellogroup.com/pdfs/talking_self_harm.pdf Youngminds & cello research

5. Methods of self harm

6. How common is it? • Between 1 in 12 and 1 in 15 young people self-harm (truth hurts 2008) • 37,000 young people presented to hospital in 2010/11 and many report previous episodes when they did not go to hospital (hospitals admissions statistics 2010) • Inpatient admissions of young people under 25 for self harm have increased by 68% in the last 10 years (hospitals admissions statistics 2010)

7. Risk Factors • Being Bullied • Not getting on with parents • Stress about school • Divorce • Bereavement • Unwanted pregnancy • Experience of abuse • Difficulties associated with sexuality • Problems to do with race, culture and religion • Low self esteem • Feeling rejected (NSPCC 2009)

8. Charlie is an 18 year student and he is self harming. • Charlie’s parents recently discovered he is self harming but have not sought professional help • Charlie’s tutor gets on well with him and suspects he is self harming but is not sure • Charlie’s health worker has become aware of his self harming because his best friend approached her for advice. Persectives exercise

9. How are you feeling? • What do you want to happen? • What do you need to happen? • What can you do? questions

10. Challenges to assessing risk image: insiderhondashead.blogspot.com

11. Challenges to assessing risk image: solidersofdestiny.org

12. So what can we do to help?

13. Harm minimisation

14. Advice • Prepare yourself with knowledge about self-harm before you talk to Charlie. • Stay calm and don’t over react.. Being shocked or angry could make it worse. • Talk it through with someone confidentially.  • Offer advice about where to go • Accept that they might not want to talk, but it’s important for you to try and encourage the person to open up • If you are concerned that they might really hurt themselves seek professional advice.  • Ask Charlie about intentions of suicide directly • “Wait till I’m finished and calmed down...” Don’t try stop someone in the middle of self-harming as they will be in an agitated state. Be there for them to listen. • Look out for signs and clues that someone is self-harming. • Stay loyal and accessible • Be there as a consistent support mechanism for them. • Talk about thoughts and feelings rather than what they’re doing.

15. Parents Helpline: 0808 802 5544 • Tel: 020 7089 5050 • Website: http://www.youngminds.org.uk and • Publications • Training & Development: roger.catchpole@youngminds.org.uk youngminds