Self-harm self help resources
Resources for young children
- Advice for young people.pdf (cchp.nhs.uk). This is a booklet providing advice for young people who self-harm. Credit: The National Self-Harm Network.
Resources for teens
- MHF-The-truth-about-self-harm-guide.pdf (mentalhealth.org.uk). This is a booklet to help young people & their families understand self-harm. Credit: MentalHealthFoundation.
- Healthy Coping Strategies and Alternatives To Self-Harm | PDF (scribd.com). This is a document that provides healthy coping strategies and alternatives to self-harm. The ideas have all been suggested by people who’ve self-harmed in the past. Credit: Dr Pooky Knightsmith.
- My story of self-harm recovery | YoungMinds. This is a young person’s story of self-harm. Credit: Young Minds
- 42nd Street | Help with self-harm |. This is a document that provides young people with tips to help them manage their emotions in a less harmful way. Credit: 42ndstreet
- Heads Above The Waves (hatw.co.uk). This is a non-profit organisation that work to raise awareness of depression and self-harm in young people. They offer workshops to share creative ways to overcome self-harm. Credit: Head Above The Waves
- Understanding self-harm and finding safer alternatives – YouTube. This is a video which provides useful alternatives to self-harming. Credit: Dr Pooky Knightsmith
Resources for parents
- MHF-The-truth-about-self-harm-guide.pdf (mentalhealth.org.uk). This is a booklet to help young people & their families understand self-harm. Credit: MentalHealthFoundation
- Healthy Coping Strategies and Alternatives To Self-Harm | PDF (scribd.com). This is a document that provides healthy coping strategies and alternatives to self-harm. The ideas have all been suggested by people who’ve self-harmed in the past. Credit: Dr Pooky Knightsmith.
- Heads Above The Waves (hatw.co.uk). This is a non-profit organisation that work to raise awareness of depression and self-harm in young people. They offer workshops to share creative ways to overcome self-harm. Credit: Head Above The Waves
Useful apps & websites
Useful Contacts
- Childline: advice online or on the phone (any time or day) – 0800 111
- Samaritans: advice on the phone (any time or day) – 116 123
- The Mix/Get connected: advice on the phone for under 25s (1pm-11pm – 7 days a week) – 0808 808 4994
- Young Minds Parent Helpline: detailed advice, emotional support and signposting about a child or young person up to the age of 25 – 0808 802 5544 (9:30am-4pm, Monday-Friday).
- Webchat online support (aged 13-25) – speak to a mental health practitioner or a counsellor through weekly messages or a live text chat: https://www.42ndstreet.org.uk/young-people/one-to-one-support/webchat-online-support/
Resources with a cost
- Can I Tell You About Self-Harm?: A Guide for Friends, Family and Professionals: Amazon.co.uk: Pooky Knightsmith, Foreword by Jonathan Singer: 9781785924286: Books. This is a book suitable for age 7+ that explains what self-harm is, why young people self-harm and it offers alternatives to self-harm. Credit: Dr Pooky Knightsmith.