Education and prevention

An important aspect of a school or colleges role is to be aware of the possibility of self-harm and to train staff to recognise and manage it. It is helpful if staff have thought about self-harming behaviour, and the importance of being non-judgmental before their first encounter with someone who is self-harming.

It is therefore advisable for all schools and colleges to have a policy on how to deal with self-harm.

Some of the issues you may want to address are;

• Having a process that is known to all staff and which starts at the point of recognising the symptoms through to helping that person in the most appropriate way
• Making sure it is an integral part of the Child Protection Policy
• Having at least one designated person who can help students and ensuring they are introduced to all students
• Having someone to help employees cope with their feelings about self-harm
• Ways to increase awareness of the issue with students
• Ensuring there is an accessible list of local contacts for young people who self-harm
• Easy access to appropriate materials for students
• Getting information without having to ask
• Consider other ways for students to express and manage pent up emotions.
  

There will be more issues that arise as you work through building a process but the important thing is to start.

> Adolescent Self-Harm and Suicidal Behaviour
A guide for schools