Looking After a Wound: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide ❤️ If you or do o you know has self-harmed, the priority is keeping safe, looking after the wound and getting appropriate support. Try to stay calm and non-judgemental - they may already be feeling frightened, ashamed or upset. 🩹 Step 1 — Wash your hands Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching the wound. 🩹 Step 2 — Stop any bleeding Apply firm, steady pressure with clean gauze or a clean cloth. If blo

Recognising the Early Signs of Self-Harm Today I want to talk about something that I think is incredibly important when it comes to self-harm - the early signs. And I want to start by saying something really important: Self-harm can begin at a much younger age than many people realise. We can start seeing early behaviours from around seven or eight years old, and sometimes even younger. Around the age of eight is often when those early signs may start becoming noticeable. But

You can hear the full interview with Lydia and myself on her Riding The Trauma Train YouTube channel using the link below 👇🏻 https://youtu.be/NIY9hqe5sbM?is=EA2DRX1v7SMPVFdF

When you discover that your child is self-harming, your whole world can feel like it has been turned upside down. As a mum whose own child self-harmed, I know the questions that immediately race through your mind. Why couldn’t they talk to me? Why has this happened? What have I done wrong? If you’ve asked yourself these questions, please know you are not alone. Almost every parent I have spoken to has experienced the same overwhelming guilt, fear, heartbreak, and self-doubt.

Join Our 60K September Challenge! 🚴‍♂️🏊‍♀️🏃‍♀️ Challenge yourself to walk, jog, run, swim or cycle 60 kilometres throughout the month of September while helping us make a real difference. Entry options: * £20 – Includes a challenge T-shirt and finisher’s medal. * £10 – Includes a finisher’s medal. * £5 – Entry only. Every penny raised will help us provide S&L Self-Harm Distraction Kits and Barnaby the Worry Monster to schools, supporting children and young people with thei

If you become our supporter on easyfundraising, you’ll raise free funds for S&L Self-Harm Awareness and Prevention CIC simply by shopping online. And if 10 new supporters join by Sunday 2nd August, S&L Self-Harm Awareness and Prevention CIC will unlock a bonus £10 donation! It only takes a moment and it’s completely free, so please get involved if you haven’t already - this would really boost our fundraising: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/cause/sandl-self-harm-awareness-

Understanding Endorphins and Self-Harm: Why the Brain Responds and Healthier Ways to Find Relief When people think about self-harm, they often focus on the physical injury. However, there is also a complex biological process taking place inside the brain and body. One of the reasons some people may feel temporary relief after self-harming is due to the release of chemicals called endorphins. Understanding how endorphins work can help us better understand why self-harm can bec

When Your Child is Self-Harming: You Don’t Have to Have All the Answers Discovering that your child is self-harming can be one of the most frightening and heartbreaking experiences a parent can face. Many parents describe feeling overwhelmed by worry, guilt, confusion, and a desperate need to make it stop immediately. If this is your situation right now, there is something important to hear: Your child’s self-harm is not a sign that you have failed as a parent. Young people s

Safer Alternatives and Distraction Ideas for Self-Harm Reduction When emotions become overwhelming, many people look for ways to cope with emotional pain, distress, or difficult thoughts. While everyone’s experience is different, having a collection of safer alternatives and distraction techniques can help create space between the urge to self-harm and the action itself. Not every idea will work for every person, and that’s okay. The goal is to build a personalised toolkit of

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How Do I Stop Self-Harming? Self-harm is often misunderstood. Many people assume it is simply “attention seeking” or something a person can stop overnight if they truly wanted to. In reality, self-harm is usually a coping mechanism for overwhelming emotional pain, distress, trauma, anxiety, shame, or feelings that feel too difficult to express in words. Stopping self-harm is possible, but it rarely happens instantly. Recovery takes commitment, determination, support, and pati

5 Common Myths About Self-Harm and the Truth Behind Them Content note: This article discusses self-harm in a supportive and non-graphic way. If you are struggling right now, you deserve support, compassion, and safety. Self-harm is one of the most misunderstood mental health struggles. Because of stigma, many people who are hurting feel ashamed, isolated, or afraid to ask for help. Myths and stereotypes can make recovery even harder. The truth is that self-harm is complex, de

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to opening up conversations, challenging stigma, and reminding ourselves that mental health is just as important as physical health. For many people, life can feel overwhelming. Stress, anxiety, loneliness, grief, or simply the weight of everyday responsibilities can build up quietly over time. Sometimes, there isn’t even a clear reason, just a sense that things don’t feel quite right. During moments like these, it’s impo

For a lot of people, scars carry complicated meaning. They’re not just marks on skin, they’re reminders of moments that felt overwhelming, painful, or impossible to survive. And yet, here you are. Still moving forward, still living your life. That matters. There’s a common idea that scars are something to hide. That they’re shameful, or something you have to explain. But the truth is quieter and stronger than that: scars are evidence that something healed. Not perfectly, not

Why Mental Health Matters Just as Much as Physical Health Every year, World Health Day serves as a reminder to reflect on our overall wellbeing, but too often, mental health is still treated as an afterthought. While we’ve made progress in recent years, there remains a significant gap in how we view and treat mental health compared to physical health. If you broke your arm, had a persistent cough, or were experiencing ongoing pain, you wouldn’t hesitate to contact your GP. It

🌍 World Autism Awareness Day: Moving Beyond Awareness Every year on April 2nd, World Autism Awareness Day gives us an opportunity to pause, reflect, and learn more about autism. But awareness is just the beginning. What truly matters is how we turn that awareness into understanding, acceptance, and meaningful change. Autism is not a one-size-fits-all experience. It is a spectrum, meaning every autistic person has their own unique strengths, challenges, and ways of interactin

Transgender Day of Visibility: Why Kindness Matters More Than Ever Keywords: Transgender Day of Visibility, transgender awareness, trans mental health, self-harm awareness, LGBTQ+ support, kindness and inclusion, mental health awareness, stigma and discrimination Every year, Transgender Day of Visibility is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and recognise the lives, experiences, and resilience of transgender people. It is a day centred on visibility — not just being seen, but

World Down Syndrome Day – Celebrating Ability, Inclusion, and Joy Every year on 21st March, people around the world come together to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness, promoting inclusion, and celebrating the lives of people with Down syndrome. The date itself is meaningful. Down syndrome is caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21, and 3/21 symbolises this unique genetic difference. The day reminds us not only to understa

Self-Harm Awareness: Myth vs. Reality One of the most common fears adults have is that talking about self-harm might somehow make the situation worse. But the truth is the opposite. Myth “Talking about self-harm will make it worse.” It’s an understandable worry. Conversations about self-harm can feel uncomfortable, frightening, and unfamiliar. Many parents, guardians or teachers fear that raising the topic might put ideas into a teenager’s mind or encourage harmful behaviour

Neurodiversity Celebration Week: Why Understanding Matters More Than Ever Neurodiversity Celebration Week is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the natural differences in how people think, learn, and experience the world. Neurodivergent individuals, including those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurological differences, bring unique perspectives, strengths, and creativity to society. However, alongside these strengths often come significant challenges, many of