Youth self-harm and suicide awareness : a reflective practice guide for staff working with children and young people

Self-harm and suicide are notoriously difficult to talk about and can provoke strong emotional responses in those who work with vulnerable children and young people. But when research shows that on average two children in every classroom self-harm and one young person tries to take their life every half an hour, it is imperative that staff know how to respond effectively.

This guide emphasises the importance of acknowledging attitudes about self-harm and suicide and encourages the reader to reflect on how these attitudes can impact on their work with young people. As well as exploring key facts and research to help raise awareness, it also provides guidance on developing local youth suicide prevention guidelines and support within local areas and organisations.

The guide is underpinned by a framework of reflective practice and a basic application of theories from Transactional Analysis. Readers are encouraged to reflect on their responses to the learning and to apply this awareness to their work with children and young people.The enclosed DVD includes a 15 minute film of young people discussing their experiences of self harm.