Self Harm
The Managing Self-harm Guidance and Toolkit for schools has been developed by the Cornwall Multi-agency Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Board, following the successful first edition developed in 2017.
The guide recognises the growing number of young people who harm themselves in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and across the country.
Young people living in Great Britain have the highest rate of self-injury in Europe and many school staff struggle to know how to respond to incidents of self-harm. Teachers have described feeling: “fazed, repulsed, bewildered, sorry and mystified”, when faced with people who had harmed themselves.
The guide also supports the local transformation plan for children and young people’s mental health services document which is called Turning the Tide and the really valuable work that is already taking place through the i-Thrive Framework.
Free Leaflets
Leaflets developed by the working group with input and advice from Young People, for school staff, parents and young people are now available. Download here:
Young People (A4 easy print version)
Young People (pdf of print leaflet)
Parents & Carers (A4 easy print version)
Parents & Carers (pdf of print leaflet)
School Staff (A4 easy print version)
School Staff (pdf of print leaflet)
Staff Training
The Healthy Cornwall Training Team offer a range of support suitable for school staff around mental health and wellbeing. See our Whole School Approach to Good Mental Health pages for more information and ideas.
Cornwall Council have some excellent pages to support Mental Health including a page dedicated to Mental Health Safety Planning. This page includes a useful training video explaining their use along with a list of Apps designed to help with anxiety, depression, self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
Signposting:
Mind provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. Their pages on self-harm are for anyone who self-harms, and their friends and family. It explains what self-harm is, the reasons for it and how to go about making changes. It includes self-help ideas and information about other forms of support.
Mind Your Way - Developed by the Cornwall CAMHS Young People’s board, with the aim of providing a safe, reliable source of information and advice. It is designed by young people, for young people but content and links will also be useful to parents, carers and professionals.
Young Minds provide valuable information, support and signposting for young people. There is also advice for parents and carers.
The Mental Health Foundation's Truth About Self Harm booklet is based on the findings of the National Inquiry into Self-harm among young people. The booklet aims to help you understand more about self-harm and what to do if you are worried about yourself or someone else. It explains what self-harm is, what to do if you or someone you know is self-harming, and how to get help.
LifeSIGNS is a user-led small charity creating understanding about self-injury. They provide information about self-injury and support people as and when they choose to make changes in their lives.
The Samaritans is an organisation who aim to ensure there is someone there to talk to whenever needed. They not only support those in crisis but also those who are experiencing difficulties or those worried about someone else. They also work towards preventing a crisis occurring.
Grassroots Suicide Prevention - Based in the South East of England, since 2006 they have trained over 5,000 people in suicide prevention and mental health both locally and nationally.
Apps
MeeTwo appears like social media but it's not. It provides a safe and secure forum for teenagers wanting to discuss any issue affecting their lives. You can anonymously get advice from experts or other teenagers going through similar experiences in areas such as mental health concerns, self-harming, relationships and friendships.
Don't forget to document your emotional health and wellbeing work as part of your Healthy Schools Award