Self-harm prevention in the community: Awareness and signposting for parents and carers

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Hello and welcome to the self-harm in the community awareness and engagement page. This is intended to inform you of the latest information, support and guidance on self-harm, including external links to organisations and services for yourself and/or your child/young person.

You can also get up to date information on online sessions, resource and engagement, and from time to time will be posting online polls and surveys to help shape and develop ongoing pieces of work, in relation to self-harm in West Sussex.

Below is the West Sussex County Council "introduction to self-harm in children and young people" animation, which can help to frame some of the issues you may be concerned about.


Accessibility Statement

If you require any of this information in an alternative format, then please contact us via email at Danielle.Wilkinson@westsussex.gov.uk or by telephone on 0330 222 3715 and we will do our best to assist you. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and have an NGT texting app installed on your computer, laptop or smartphone, you can contact us on 18001 0330 222 3715

We are committed to making this website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018. Please view the West Sussex County Council Accessibility Statement, for further details. Information about the accessibility of the Your Voice Engagement Hub can be found by clicking on the 'Accessibility tab' which can be found at the bottom of this page. Where it exists, we will provide details of any project related content which is not fully accessible under a heading of 'Non-accessible content' below.

We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact us at haveyoursay@westsussex.gov.uk.


Survey web browser compatibility

Please use one of the browsers below when completing the survey to ensure it looks and works as it should. These are

· Chrome version 86 and above

· Firefox version 78 and above

· Microsoft Edge version 86 and above

· Safari version 14 and above

Hello and welcome to the self-harm in the community awareness and engagement page. This is intended to inform you of the latest information, support and guidance on self-harm, including external links to organisations and services for yourself and/or your child/young person.

You can also get up to date information on online sessions, resource and engagement, and from time to time will be posting online polls and surveys to help shape and develop ongoing pieces of work, in relation to self-harm in West Sussex.

Below is the West Sussex County Council "introduction to self-harm in children and young people" animation, which can help to frame some of the issues you may be concerned about.


Accessibility Statement

If you require any of this information in an alternative format, then please contact us via email at Danielle.Wilkinson@westsussex.gov.uk or by telephone on 0330 222 3715 and we will do our best to assist you. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and have an NGT texting app installed on your computer, laptop or smartphone, you can contact us on 18001 0330 222 3715

We are committed to making this website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018. Please view the West Sussex County Council Accessibility Statement, for further details. Information about the accessibility of the Your Voice Engagement Hub can be found by clicking on the 'Accessibility tab' which can be found at the bottom of this page. Where it exists, we will provide details of any project related content which is not fully accessible under a heading of 'Non-accessible content' below.

We are always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, please contact us at haveyoursay@westsussex.gov.uk.


Survey web browser compatibility

Please use one of the browsers below when completing the survey to ensure it looks and works as it should. These are

· Chrome version 86 and above

· Firefox version 78 and above

· Microsoft Edge version 86 and above

· Safari version 14 and above

  • Understanding young peoples mental health for parents and carers

    Share Understanding young peoples mental health for parents and carers on Facebook Share Understanding young peoples mental health for parents and carers on Twitter Share Understanding young peoples mental health for parents and carers on Linkedin Email Understanding young peoples mental health for parents and carers link
    supporting image

    Workshops for parents and carers of children and young people to help support their child's mental health.

    As a parent we often find ourselves ill-equipped when it comes to dealing with, or even being aware of, our child's or young person's mental wellbeing, but help is at hand. West Sussex Mind are running a series of friendly, confidential and relaxed workshops where

    we will learn about the challenges to young people's mental health, gain confidence in having conversations about how they are feeling and thinking and explore ways to help your young person with any emotional difficulties.

    See dates on Eventbrite at:

    www.westsussexmind.eventbrite.com

    West Sussex Mind are running these events on behalf of West Sussex County Council

    Workshops for parents and carers of children and young people to help support their child's mental health.

    As a parent we often find ourselves ill-equipped when it comes to dealing with, or even being aware of, our child's or young person's mental wellbeing, but help is at hand. West Sussex Mind are running a series of friendly, confidential and relaxed workshops where

    we will learn about the challenges to young people's mental health, gain confidence in having conversations about how they are feeling and thinking and explore ways to help your young person with any emotional difficulties.

    See dates on Eventbrite at:

    www.westsussexmind.eventbrite.com

    West Sussex Mind are running these events on behalf of West Sussex County Council

  • Self-harm learning networks 2022

    Share Self-harm learning networks 2022 on Facebook Share Self-harm learning networks 2022 on Twitter Share Self-harm learning networks 2022 on Linkedin Email Self-harm learning networks 2022 link

    New content and dates for 2022

    Join other parents and carers in a free on-line Zoom workshop to support you and your family.

    Facilitated by West Sussex Mind, YMCA Downslink Group and supported by Allsorts Youth Project, you will be able to talk with other parents and carers to hear what is working for them, discuss your support needs, hear from guest speakers and get updates on the latest initiatives, research, resources and policies.

    The content will focus on supporting young people who self-harm, as well as supporting friends, siblings and ourselves, and begin to consider any additional learning needs.

    This 1 ½hr session will provide you with the opportunity to learn from real life examples of young people’s experience of living with self-harm and what we can do to support their wellbeing, whilst also offering you valuable space and time to meet with other parents and carers in small facilitated groups

    All parents and carers of children and young people are welcome to attend.

    booking links and flyer can be found on the right hand side of the page

    New content and dates for 2022

    Join other parents and carers in a free on-line Zoom workshop to support you and your family.

    Facilitated by West Sussex Mind, YMCA Downslink Group and supported by Allsorts Youth Project, you will be able to talk with other parents and carers to hear what is working for them, discuss your support needs, hear from guest speakers and get updates on the latest initiatives, research, resources and policies.

    The content will focus on supporting young people who self-harm, as well as supporting friends, siblings and ourselves, and begin to consider any additional learning needs.

    This 1 ½hr session will provide you with the opportunity to learn from real life examples of young people’s experience of living with self-harm and what we can do to support their wellbeing, whilst also offering you valuable space and time to meet with other parents and carers in small facilitated groups

    All parents and carers of children and young people are welcome to attend.

    booking links and flyer can be found on the right hand side of the page

  • Self-harm: Parent and carer online session recording

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    FREE recording of a previous online self-harm session for parents and carers of a young person engaged in or at risk of engaging in self-harming behaviour. Presented by the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust

    The session covered:

    • Introduction to the new self-harm learning network – Find out about a new programme of support for parents/carers of children who self-harm
    • What is self-harm and why do young people adopt this as a coping strategy
    • How to approach your child if you think they are self-harming
    • How to respond if your child tells you they are self-harming
    • Understanding the cycle of change and responding accordingly
    • Resisting the ‘fix it urge’ – why just telling them to stop is unlikely to be effective
    • Seeking help for your child and your family
    • Awareness of medical risk and emergency first aid
    • Harm minimisation techniques
    • Tolerating the distress of setbacks

    To access the recording click on the link below and entre the password - WestSussexCC1105!

    Link: https://vimeo.com/555673554


    FREE recording of a previous online self-harm session for parents and carers of a young person engaged in or at risk of engaging in self-harming behaviour. Presented by the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust

    The session covered:

    • Introduction to the new self-harm learning network – Find out about a new programme of support for parents/carers of children who self-harm
    • What is self-harm and why do young people adopt this as a coping strategy
    • How to approach your child if you think they are self-harming
    • How to respond if your child tells you they are self-harming
    • Understanding the cycle of change and responding accordingly
    • Resisting the ‘fix it urge’ – why just telling them to stop is unlikely to be effective
    • Seeking help for your child and your family
    • Awareness of medical risk and emergency first aid
    • Harm minimisation techniques
    • Tolerating the distress of setbacks

    To access the recording click on the link below and entre the password - WestSussexCC1105!

    Link: https://vimeo.com/555673554


  • Pan-Sussex self-harm learning network

    Share Pan-Sussex self-harm learning network on Facebook Share Pan-Sussex self-harm learning network on Twitter Share Pan-Sussex self-harm learning network on Linkedin Email Pan-Sussex self-harm learning network link
    supporting image

    Join us and other parents and carers across your area in a workshop to support you and your family. Facilitated by West Sussex Mind, YMCA Downslink Group and supported by Allsorts Youth Project, you will be able to talk with other parents to hear what is working for them, discuss your support needs, hear from guest speakers and get updates on the latest initiatives, research, resources and policies. You will be able to improve your understanding and skills to prevent and respond to self-harm and increase your confidence in having conversations with your child and school.

    you can book your place here via the Eventbrite booking link


    Join us and other parents and carers across your area in a workshop to support you and your family. Facilitated by West Sussex Mind, YMCA Downslink Group and supported by Allsorts Youth Project, you will be able to talk with other parents to hear what is working for them, discuss your support needs, hear from guest speakers and get updates on the latest initiatives, research, resources and policies. You will be able to improve your understanding and skills to prevent and respond to self-harm and increase your confidence in having conversations with your child and school.

    you can book your place here via the Eventbrite booking link


  • Self-care activities

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    Self-care is about the things we can do to look after our own mental health

    Anna Freud have drawn up a list of strategies young people use to help manage wellbeing, you can find the page here

    Self-care is about the things we can do to look after our own mental health

    Anna Freud have drawn up a list of strategies young people use to help manage wellbeing, you can find the page here

  • Young minds parents guide to support webpage

    Share Young minds parents guide to support webpage on Facebook Share Young minds parents guide to support webpage on Twitter Share Young minds parents guide to support webpage on Linkedin Email Young minds parents guide to support webpage link

    Click here to access the young minds page specifically for parents titled Supporting your child who is self-harming

    Click here to access the young minds page specifically for parents titled Supporting your child who is self-harming

Page last updated: 25 Jul 2025, 11:04 AM