Young people and self harm

Step Up International are delivering a one day course on self harm, focusing on young people, on Saturday 21 February from 10am to 4pm at YMCA Derby, 770 London Road, Derby DE24 8UT.

Topics covered will include:

  • The differences in how self harm is approached by young people of different age groups;
  • The purpose of self harming and what it does for the young person;
  • Harm minimisation and alternative techniques to self harm that a young person could use; and
  • Tools, strategies and support for change of self harm behaviour.

All participants will also receive a training resource manual and two months post course follow up from Step Up International.

The cost of the course is £20 per delegate.

For further information and to book contact Natasha Littlechild at Ting Training on 01332 331259 or by email at ting@relatederby.org.uk.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has published Managing Self-Harm in Young People, a report which replaces Managing Deliberate Self Harm in Young People which was published in 1998.

The new report includes a new section focusing on digital technology and along with good practice examples, offers 14 recommendations for professionals working with self harm, including:

  • Commissioners need to stress the importance of collaborative working between the acute hospital, mental health services and the local authority in responding to a young person’s self-harm;
  • Asking about self-harm does not increase the behaviour. It is important that front-line professionals become familiar with asking about self-harm when talking to young people struggling with changes in their lives.
  • Young people who self-harm should be involved in the planning and delivery of training.
  • Schools should prioritise the self-harm training needs of their staff so that they can support young people in an effective, non-judgemental manner; and
  • Young people under 16 seen in the A&E for acute self-harm should be admitted so that assessments and intervention can be planned.

To download the full report visit www.rcpsych.ac.uk/usefulresources/publications/collegereports/cr/cr192.aspx.