Self-Harm Awareness

About this course.

Self-harm is far more common than many people realise, and yet it remains one of the most misunderstood and stigmatised experiences a person can go through. This course is designed to help you understand what self-harm is, why people do it, and — most importantly — how to respond with warmth, calm and compassion when someone you know, support or work with is self-harming. It is written for education, care, health and frontline staff, and for anyone who finds themselves supporting a friend, family member, colleague or person in their care. You do not need any prior knowledge or clinical training to benefit from it.

The course covers self-harm as a coping response to emotional distress, the important distinction between self-harm and suicide, who self-harm affects, myths and stigma, the functions and reasons behind self-harm, recognising that someone may be struggling, why people hide self-harm, how to stay calm and be non-judgemental, listening and focusing on the feelings not the behaviour, what not to do, when and how to seek further help, confidentiality and its limits, recording and referring, and looking after your own wellbeing when supporting someone who self-harms.