{"alias":"contentPage","byline":null,"standfirst":null,"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"sidebar","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EWhat is self-harm?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESelf-harm is when someone hurts themselves as a way of dealing with or expressing difficult thoughts and feelings. There are lots of things that could be described as self-harm. Here are some of the most common forms:\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Ecutting or scratching the skin,\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Ebiting, punching or banging,\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Eburning or scalding,\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Epulling or excessively plucking hair,\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Epoisoning, and\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003Etaking overdoses.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESelf-harm doesn\u2019t always leave marks on the body, and people may put lots of effort into hiding any injuries.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EWhy do some people self-harm?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESome people may think that self-harm is the same as a suicide attempt, but this isn\u2019t true. Even where someone may have taken an overdose, they may be intending to harm themselves rather than trying to end their life.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s important to understand that there are lots of different reasons why someone might self-harm, and you should try not to make any assumptions.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EFor many people, self-harm is a coping mechanism that they can use when they are dealing with difficult thoughts and feelings. Although you may feel like the most important thing is changing the self-harming behaviour, it\u2019s often more important to recognise the reasons someone might be doing this. Some people will understand why they are hurting themselves, whereas others will be less sure.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EHow should I respond to someone who is self-harming?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EIf you become aware that a child or young person self-harms, the most important thing you can do is stay calm and non-judgemental. This can help the young person to speak more openly.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EInform their parent or carer, unless it\u0027s believed that this contact would put the young person at further risk of harm. \u0026nbsp;\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAlways follow the \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safe-scouting-cards/safeguarding-code-of-conduct-for-adults-yellow-card/\u0022 title=\u0022Young People First - Yellow Card\u0022\u003EYellow Card\u003C/a\u003E Code of Conduct for Adults and \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/reporting-a-concern-to-safeguarding/\u0022 title=\u0022Reporting a concern to safeguarding\u0022\u003Ereport your concerns\u003C/a\u003E to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EDon\u2019t demand to see their injuries, but confirm whether the child or young person needs medical attention. This is important, because injuries could be serious or at risk of infection.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAdult volunteers in Scouts must not become the main support for a young person who is self-harming. Specialist support needs to be identified and the UK HQ Safeguarding Team will liaise with parents or carers to identify and signpost to appropriate support.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe best form of support is through the child or young person\u2019s GP. They can decide whether a referral should be made to a specialist service, such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Where it\u2019s appropriate, you can make the young person and parent or carer aware of useful organisations, such as those on this page.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EJust being involved in a supportive environment within Scouts and the positive relationships made there, can make a big difference. Support and understanding can have a very positive effect.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003EWhat else do I need to consider?\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou may need to make adaptations to activities in Scouts for young people who self-harm. Consider this when risk assessing activities, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the child or young person. Discuss their needs with them and with their parent or carer, if appropriate, to make sure a suitable support or care plan is in place.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"Planning individual support","body":"","link":{"name":"Individual support plans","id":null,"url":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/equity-diversity-and-inclusion/supporting-people-with-additional-needs/planning-individual-support/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":"#590fa9","title":"Find out more about planning individual support","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Image top","cta":"Reporting a safeguarding concern","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u0027re concerned about\u202Fthe welfare of a child, young person or adult volunteer, you must follow the \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safe-scouting-cards/safeguarding-code-of-conduct-for-adults-yellow-card/\u0022 title=\u0022Young People First - Yellow Card\u0022\u003EYellow Card\u003C/a\u003E Code of Conduct for Adults and report it to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.\u003C/p\u003E","link":{"name":"Reporting a concern to safeguarding","id":null,"url":"/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/reporting-a-concern-to-safeguarding/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":"#ffe627","title":"Reporting a concern","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThese resources provide information and advice. You can also share them with young people.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/your-feelings/self-harm/self-harm/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Self-harm (Childline)\u0022\u003EChildline\u003C/a\u003E. Talk to Childline by calling 0800 1111.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/my-feelings/self-harm/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Self-harm (Young Minds)\u0022\u003EYoung Minds\u003C/a\u003E. Text SHOUT to 85258 to talk to a trained volunteer.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/self-harm/about-self-harm/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022About self-harm (Mind)\u0022\u003EMind\u003C/a\u003E. Talk to Mind by calling 0300 123 3393.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.samaritans.org/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Samaritans website\u0022\u003ESamaritans\u003C/a\u003E. Talk to Samaritans by calling 116 123.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Mental health (NHS)\u0022\u003ENHS\u003C/a\u003E. For urgent medical advice, call 111.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#f1f1f1","title":"Further support","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":"Find out how you can support children and young people who self-harm.","pageType":null,"location":null,"browserTitle":"","versionDate":"15 July 2023","reviewDate":"16/06/2020","redirectUrl":"","id":47521,"nodeName":"Self-harm","title":"Self-harm","type":"contentPage","image":null,"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Dealing with self-harm","headerSubTitle":"Find out how you can support children and young people who self-harm","headerCta":"","headerCtaText":"","headerCtaLink":"","headerBackgroundColour":"ffe627","showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Yellow Card","url":"/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safe-scouting-cards/safeguarding-code-of-conduct-for-adults-yellow-card/","newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Report a safeguarding concern","url":"/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/reporting-a-concern-to-safeguarding/","newWindow":false}]},"subHeader":"Find out how you can support children and young people who self-harm.","silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80NzUyMSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/supporting-young-people/mental-health/self-harm/"}