Navigating health appointments can be challenging for the best of us, let alone for young people, so it is always worthwhile spending a bit of time preparing. We hope that these tips help both you and them.
Self-harm is becoming increasingly prevalent among children and young people and should always be taken seriously. We’ve put together a quick guide, covering key things you need to know and where you can find more advice and information in the Tooled Up library.
As of July 2022, the NICE guidelines on supporting people who self-harm will be updated to include specific advice for educational settings. We outline the proposed changes.
In this webinar recording, Dr Weston takes school staff through the latest evidence on eating disorders, anxiety and self-harm. It’s packed full of the latest research, relevant resources and actionable advice. The recording is one hour long and is the perfect way to ensure that your knowledge and understanding of these topics is fresh, relevant and accurate.
In this video, Dr Weston talks to Professor Ellen Townsend about everything a parent needs to understand about self-harm. They discuss predictive factors, prevention and practical steps that parents can take in the event that they discover their child is self-harming.
Our researcher of the month, Gates Cambridge Scholar, Stepheni Uh, talks to Dr Weston about her recent paper, which examines how teenagers at greatest risk of self-harming could be identified almost a decade before they self-harm. They discuss some distinct profiles of young people most likely to self-harm and look at significant risk factors, including a history of psychopathology, low self-esteem, poor parental mental health and lack of sleep. They also consider useful interventions.
Levels of self-harm are increasing among UK teens. Here are some evidence-based tips that can help you to deal with young people’s distress in your setting.
When we feel down, we can sometimes forget who we can turn to, message or call up for help. We can also forget about the things that we can do which will help us to feel better. If your child struggles with self-harm, it’s really important that they have coping strategies that help them and people around who they can talk to when they need cheering up. Encourage your child to fill out this handy plan, keep it safe, and to use it if they feel like they might be considering harming themselves.
If your child is struggling with self-harm, here is a list of organisations, books and other resources that can help both them and you. In the event of an emergency, or an immediate threat to life, always contact 999.
In this podcast, Dr Weston talks to Professor Ellen Townsend about young people and self-harm. They discuss the importance of listening to young people and recognising that self-harm is an expression of distress and should always be taken seriously. Professor Townsend also shares some thoughts about the effects of the global pandemic lockdown on the development and mental health of children and young people.
