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Supervised self harm plan praised - an interesting, controversial and thought provoking scheme. Is this a step in the right direction? A validation or encouragement of self harm? Is it viable in light of the fact that for many people who self-harm the act is very private and hidden?
These are just a couple of the questions that were raised for me when I read about this scheme, ones that I haven't yet managed to answer for myself and wonder what others think?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4830448.stm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=380718&in_page_id=1774 -

The National Inquiry has launched its final report about self-harm: Truth Hurts

Go to www.selfharmuk.org to read the report. If you have anything to say about it, please let us know!

Two news reports about it are available:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1739832,00.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4842116.stm

So what shall we get up to in 2006?

LifeSIGNS is taking some time at the moment to think carefully about what we'd really like to do next. SIAD was really good this year, as you can see from our counter we've reached more people than ever before and that number just keeps on growing! We hope that by the next time SIAD comes around we'll have greater plans for raising awareness, more leaflets and posters to distribute and more ideas about where to put them!

We have a few ideas in the pipeline that will be revealed in due course but in the meantime if you can think of anything that you'd like to see improved in the area of self-harm and would like to get involved with our work, please email me with your suggestions.

We would especially like to hear from our older members, as it is clear that most information or services are not especially aimed at them. Please get in touch and tell us what you need, or how you think awareness of older self-harm could be raised.

Sarah@lifesigns.org.uk

Local Newspaper Letter:

I wrote to the local newspaper in response to an article about self-injury - it wasn't actually about SIAD, although for some unknown reason they altered my letter to say that it was! The letter can be viewed following this link - there is a picture which might be TRIGGERING to some people. Personally I feel that it is a bit distasteful to show a picture, but it is good awareness nonetheless. I have noticed several wristband orders from Cumbrian addresses this week!

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/opinion/viewarticle.aspx?id=338584

The original article was looking at a local support group for self-injury in Carlisle - Cumbria SIS (Self-Injury Support). I have met the lady Jill Eastham who runs the group, and think that the work that she carries out is fantastic.

In time we will be producing a directory of local support organisations. So, if you ever come across information in your local newspapers, then let us know!

LifeSIGNS :: Wristbands

We've had a complete success in terms of selling hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of SI Awareness Wristbands in February and March! Mary is so thrilled, she's gone and ordered the next bacth of 1000!

Mary works every Saturday to post out the scores of Wristbands, and we hope that we can continue to send you our fab orange silicone awareness wristbands for the whole of 2006 at least!

Please buy some for your friends; help raise awareness, and a little money for the LifeSIGNS Voluntary Organisation.

LifeSIGNS Home

One girl's good efforts for SIAD!

A few days before self-injury awareness day we received an email from an incredibly enthusiastic woman named Ana who distributed our posters and wristbands:

"When I saw there was so much info on your site about Self Harm and being a Self Harmer myself, I felt I had to get the word out to people who do this to let them know they are not alone! I was so relieved to find there were others who SH and I'm sure anyone suffering from this who feel alone would find it reassuring as well. I bought some wristbands and wear one and also gave one to my husband and family, along with a girl who is suffering from SH and her mother in Virginia. I downloaded and sent letters of recognition and information about SH to the governor of my state, 2 local newspapers and 4 local news channels. I'm going to EVERY school (grade schools, high schools and universities) in this valley (Treasure) and then next (Magic) to post the posters about SH awareness."

She then asked if there was anything else she could do for SIAD! I'd just like to thank her very much for her efforts and for feeling the motivation to get that awareness out there :)

Royal College of Nursing to discuss whether "Self-harmers" should be given fresh blades

http://www.selfharm.org.uk/index.php?section=new&show=News

This story has been discussed quite recently in a number of newspapers and there are some conflicting views on it. In some ways it is quite a controversial move - should nurses who are caring for a patient really be seen to be almost encouraging their patients to hurt themselves?

I think that it is a brave move and I am in favour of it, but I feel the reasoning behind it is a bit confused.

One of the reasons put forward is that it will reduce infection. I'm not sure that infection from using unclean equipment is really known to be that great a problem among people who self-harm. Some people have likened the idea to that of needle exchange schemes, where heroin addicts can obtain fresh needles from pharmacies - thus confusing both the question of addiction by associating heroin addiction with self-harm, and the real extent of the problem of infection. Nor is sharing of blades a known issue in self-harm. It is documented that many people who self-harm know how to take care of their wounds, and will always use a clean blade. However, if the concern really is about infection I would suggest that providing first aid kits or training in wound care would be more appropriate.

Another suggestion made is that when the patient wants to harm themselves another healthcare professional can sit there when they do it, and have the patient talk them through it. I don't understand this as it appears to forget the fact that self-harm is a highly personal act. That might even be a strong enough deterrant to stop anyone from wanting to do it, though of course it wouldn't fix the problem. To be expected to allow someone to watch you self-harm is so intrusive that it could well make things worse.

What appears to have been overlooked in the debate is the simple fact that knowing you can have access to blades if you need them may stop you from worrying about the fact that you can't self-harm. In an inpatient enviroment for instance you can't just stroll out to buy whatever you need, and it is clear that being told you can't self-harm does not help anyone actually move on from it. Knowing that you are allowed to self-harm can stop you from focusing on the behaviour and allow you to look at the reasons why you want to do it - instead of feeling the pressure of having your coping mechanism cut off from you, this action will at least validate it until you can find a better way to cope.

The Times Educational Supplement - Syndrome of Self-Injury

Our Mary has had her letter to the Times Educational Supplement published!

Well done Mary!

LifeSIGNS :: Self Injury Awareness Day SIAD

Number of people affected

We thought it would be fun to count all the people our Member has affected with their Awareness Activities; we've just started counting, so see how we're doing and note our 'counter' goes up every 24 hours!

Women on the Edge, BBC2 Monday 27th February

This programme focused on self-harm in Styal prison - please go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4742896.stm for an article by the woman who filmed it for more information.

If you saw the programme, please go to http://b2.boards2go.com/boards/board.cgi?user=SIARI2006 and post your comments.