Health and Wellbeing
Parental Awareness of Self-Harm
What to say, and what not to say, when you're worried your child is hurting themselves.
- 30 minutes
- 9 modules
- Certificate
Members
Parent membership: all 50 courses for parents and carers, £40 a year or £4 a month after 14 days free.
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If you need help now
- If someone is in danger, call 999.
- For urgent mental health help, call NHS 111.
- Samaritans: call 116 123, any time.
- Shout: text SHOUT to 85258.
- Childline (for children and young people): 0800 1111.
- Papyrus HOPELINEUK (suicide, under 35s): 0800 068 4141.
What you'll learn
- Spot the signs of self-harm, and the changes that mean risk is rising
- Tell the common myths about self-harm apart from what's really going on
- Start a calm, private conversation and let your child set the pace
- Know when to call 111 or 999, and which helplines your child can text
- Find support for yourself so you can keep going
About this course
Finding out that your child might be self-harming is one of the most frightening things a parent can face. The instinct is to ask a dozen questions at once, check their arms every night and tell them to stop. That usually pushes it further out of sight.
There's a more useful way through. You'll understand why young people self-harm (often as a way to cope rather than a wish to die, and rarely for attention) and which signs to notice. You'll learn how to start a conversation that keeps the door open: somewhere private, at a calm moment, letting them set the pace. You'll also know which changes mean the risk is rising, and when to call 111 or 999.
Looking after yourself matters too, and there are helplines here for you as well as for your child.
9 modules
Open in order
- 2 min
Introduction
- 4 min
Parental knowledge of self-harm
- 3 min
Signs for parents to look out for
- 5 min
Self-harm myths parents need to know
- 6 min
Warning signs to look out for in your child
- 5 min
Starting a conversation with your child
- 4 min
How can parents support their struggling child?
- 2 min
Keeping yourself safe
- 2 min
Wrap up