Unit 1: Recognising, understanding and responding to self-harm

Rates of self-harm are rising rapidly. Current estimates from a recent World Health Organisation survey suggest that 1 in 5 15-year-olds in the UK have turned to self-harm at some point. 

School staff are well placed to spot the warning signs and provide support to lower level cases but many school staff report a lack of confidence, little understanding of self-harm and a fear that they will do or say the wrong thing and make things worse.

This training, which is suitable for all staff, aims to raise awareness, to help staff to feel more comfortable talking about self-harm and to provide appropriate early support. 

Staff who are involved on an ongoing one-to-one basis with students who are self-harming will benefit from first completing this unit and going on to complete Unit 2 which provides specific strategies for more personalised support.

This unit will enable participants to:

• understand what self-harm is and why people harm themselves
• recognise some of the early warning signs to be aware of
• know how to respond appropriately to cases of self-harm and support recovery.

• What is self-harm?
• What self-harm is not
• Early warning signs
• Why people self-harm
• How to respond appropriately