IN THIS THEME

It's because they are struggling

Watch the video

Listen to the voices of the young people

"To feel I deserved harm to be done to me"
"It’s because they are struggling so much and they’ve got no other outlet"
"It’s easier to be like “oh well you’re doing it for this reason” and not actually know the reason"

  • "To feel I deserved harm to be done to me"

    "It’s because they are struggling so much and they’ve got no other outlet of getting rid of that struggle"

    "It’s easier to be like “oh well you’re doing it for this reason” and not actually know the reason"

Hear

What are the young people saying to you here?

Make a note of what they are telling you, or asking you to do, in your own words.

Reflect

There are many, varied things that cause young people to self- harm

Young people often experience adults as being more interested in the act of self-harm than the reasons for their distress

Respond

  • Share the task of understanding the reasons for the distress with the young person: “let’s work this out together”

  • Professional curiosity about the person, more than the self-harm

  • “How are things?”

  • “How are your feeling?”

  • “What do you need?”

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