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

FREE workshops for parents and carers

Join other parents and carers in a safe and supportive environment to hear what is working for them and improve your understanding and skills to prevent and respond to self-harm.

Self-Harm Online Safety Training Booking ink

Join us for an informative session focused on promoting online safety and discussing selfharm prevention strategies. Our experts will cover a range of topics to help you navigate the digital world safely and help you support those struggling with self-harm.

Self-Harm and Neurodiversity/ASD Booking Link

This workshop aims to give you a better understanding of contributing factors, identify what support may be needed, understand and identify early warning signs, increase your

knowledge of strategies and approaches and know where to access support.

Self Harm, Eating Disorders and Body Dysmorphia Booking Link

Self harm is very common alongside an eating disorder. This session will consider three common questions: Why is the young person with an eating disorder self harming, how can I best respond to these behaviours, and how can I manage my own feelings and others feelings when supporting them?

If you are a parent or care giver to a child or young person and supporting them with their mental health, you may feel alone at times and need some support. Did you know peer support from others who are experiencing similar situations can help with increasing confidence and learning new skills like coping with challenges? We at West Sussex Mind know how vital it is for people to talk and share their experiences, so we have started Peer Support Group ‘Circles’ across the county, where you can meet the team and other parents, all with lived experience, who can provide some much needed empathy and understanding

The parenting service at West Sussex Mind has lots more to offer

• Peer Support Groups both during the day (both in person and on-line) and evening (on-line)
• Monthly ‘Expert by Experience’ Guest Speaker Zoom evening sessions, i.e. Self-Harm, EBSA, Autism and mental health, Masking, Supporting siblings and more . . .
• 1:1 sessions with a Peer Support Worker (who has lived and professional experience). These are in blocks of three and can be delivered at a time convenient for you
• Closed Facebook group; regular newsletters and access to training, e-learning and webinars (on the West Sussex Mind website)

click on the link below to access the full information including times, days, venues and contact details.

https://mcusercontent.com/6f53084d19564264fa19bff5e/files/46525e82-c970-eddc-3a35-1380b142ac5d/WSM_Winter_peer_support_circles_poster_PDF.pdf

Free Online Session for Parents or Carers Concerned About Youth Self-Harm

Join us for a FREE online session designed specifically for parents or carers who are concerned about youth self-harm. This session aims to provide valuable information, support, and guidance to help you understand and address this sensitive issue.

This online event will cover various topics related to youth self-harm, including identifying warning signs, effective communication strategies, and available resources for support. Our experienced professionals will lead the session, offering insights and practical advice to help you navigate this challenging situation.

By attending this session, you'll gain a better understanding of youth self-harm and learn how to provide the necessary support to your child or the young person you care for. It's a great opportunity to connect with other parents or carers who are facing similar concerns.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-online-session-for-parents-or-carers-concerned-about-youth-self-harm-tickets-795205670567?aff=oddtdtcreator

West Sussex County Council are working with a number of health, care and voluntary sector organisations to carry out a needs assessment for LGBT+ children and young people in the county. We want to understand your experiences of mental health and emotional wellbeing and accessing support locally. This will help us improve local services. We want to hear from you if you live or study in the county of West Sussex, are 25 and under, and are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or exploring your sexual orientation and/or gender identity (LGBT+). The survey will take no more than 15 minutes to complete, and will help us to understand your views and experiences. The survey will close on the 4^th June 2023. LGBT+ CYP Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing survey

For anyone living with, caring for or working with children and young people who self-harm.

Hear from our key note speaker Dr Pooky Knightsmith and our nationally recognised experts in self-harm including Professor Ellen Townsend, Dr Caroline Clements and spoken word artist Samir Rhymes.

Use this link to access the recording of the Pan-Sussex Self-harm learning network conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPTjwvUioWA

You're not alone. If you need someone to talk to, text SUSSEX to 85258 to be connected to a trained volunteer who can help you with anything you're struggling with, including anxiety, stress or depression #mentalhealthsussex

We are working with the University of Chichester to help recruit parents/carers and educators of LGBTQ+ young people aged 11-25 in West Sussex to participate in focus groups about mental health and well-being. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

If you would like to participate or have any questions, please contact Dr Moitree Banerjee via M.Banerjee@chi.ac.uk.

SAVE THE DATE - 22nd of November 2022 (9.15am – 16.15pm) *

* Join us all day or for any part of the day or just register to receive resource pack and conference recording

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting a FREE online conference this November for anyone living/working or caring for children in Sussex who self-harm's

The conference will focus on first-hand experience of attending the self-harm learning networks, shared learning including the findings and the latest research on self-harm.

• What is the self-harm learning network and who was involved
• Hear from keynote speakers including Dr Pooky Knightsmith
• user experience from parents/carers and teachers
• Spoken word performance
• Live case study
• Shared learning from the self-harm learning networks
• Breakout rooms

And more

Booking link is under events on the right hand side of the page

Supporting parents and carers of LGBT+ children and young people who self-harm

Focus groups to inform session content

21^st and 26^th January 2022

21st Jan session: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/217904717877

26th Jan session: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/239921420427

Previous research has shown that LGBT+ children and young people (under 25 years old) are at much higher risk of suicide and self-harm compared to heterosexual and cisgender young people.

As part of the Self-harm Learning Network Programme, Allsorts Youth Project will be running series of online workshops during 2022 specifically for parents and carers of LGBT+ children and young people to provide advice on supporting your child’s sexual orientation, gender identity or exploring (and to discuss experiences of supporting your child in relation to self-harm).

To help shape these workshops, we are running two informal sessions for parents and carers of LGBT+ children and young people who have or are experiencing self-harm.

The aim of these workshops are to provide a safe space for parents and carers of LGBT+ children and young people to:

• Talk about their experiences of supporting their child’s sexual orientation, gender identity or exploring (and experiences in relation to self-harm).
• Meet and hear from other parents and carers who may share similar experiences
• Provide input to help shape the content of the future workshops to be offered during 2022
• Find out more about the Self-harm Learning Network programme and resources available

We encourage all parents and carers of LGBT+ children and young people to participate in these workshops; however we are particularly keen to engage with and seek the input of parents and carers of LGBT+ children and young people whose child(ren) may be neurodiverse, or currently not accessing mainstream education (e.g. electively home educated).