Suicide & Self-harm
Suicide is the biggest killer of young people under 35 in the UK. Every year many young people attempt or contemplate suicide, harm themselves or suffer alone, afraid to speak openly about how they are feeling.
Any child or young person who self-harms or expresses thoughts about self-harm or suicide must be taken seriously and appropriate help and intervention should be offered at the earliest point.
PAPYRUS is the national charity dedicated to the prevention of young suicide, see here for further information on their work. PAPYRUS have produced a range of useful resources including Building Suicide-Safer Schools and Colleges: A guide for teachers and staff
Seesaw – grief support for children and young people in Oxfordshire
Seesaw Schools Pack: A guide to supporting pupils through bereavement
Oxford Samaritans – Call free, day or night, 365 days a year on 116123
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is leading a movement against male suicide, the single biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK. Join the campaign to take a stand against male suicide and get the tools you need for action
Oxfordshire Cruse – bereavement support for adults in Oxfordshire
HM Government: Cross-Government Suicide Prevention Workplan
GOV.UK: Suicide prevention strategy for England, including the following;
- Preventing suicide in England: a cross-government outcomes strategy to save lives
- Preventing suicide in England: Equalities impact assessment
- Statistical update on suicide
- Sources of information and support for people concerned about someone at risk of suicide
- Prompts for local leaders on suicide prevention
Free online training for professionals on suicide prevention
- Merseycare Zero Suicide Alliance – Let’s Talk Suicide, a 20 minute online training
- NHS/Health Education England – ‘We Need to Talk About Suicide’, a 90 minute online training
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust: Self Harm Guidelines
Self-harm networks Oxfordshire
Self-harm networks operate in the North, Central and South areas of the County and meet 3 times per year. The networks are chaired by the Locality and Community Support Service (LCSS) and the steering group includes Anne Peake – Educational Psychologist, LCSS, OSCB and Public Health.
Aims of the steering group:
- To ensure multi-agency representation at all meetings
- Increase attendance from Education especially in the Central and South areas of the County
- Collect data at a community level through Education across the County
The steering group has produced an infographic containing data on Self-Harm in Children and Young People in England and Guidance on Information Sharing, see the document here. The infographic is shared with all delegates attending the OSCB Generalist Safeguarding training.
For further information please contact LCSS:
| Name | Contact |
|---|---|
| LCSS North | Tel: 0345 2412703 |
| LCSS Central | Tel: 0345 2412705 |
| LCSS South | Tel: 0345 2412608 |
No Harm Done: Recognising and responding to self-harm – Next steps for staff working with young people
No Harm Done: Things Can Change – Information and help for young people worried about self-harm
University of Oxford: Coping with Self Harm booklet for parents
Young Minds – information for young people and parents
Charlie Waller Memorial Trust: Young people who self-harm: A Guide for School Staff
NICE guidance on Self-harm in over 8’s