Self-harm can have a number of causes, like a difficult situation at home, school or work. In this workshop, we look at how a stressful world can lead us to cope in certain ways. Then, we begin to look at other, more healthy ways we can manage life stresses. The workshop also offers a space for you to share with your peers, but you don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.

You’ll learn facts and myths about self-harm, how to keep safe, the science of how the mind and body works, how to deal with difficult emotions, and how to reduce self-harm by learning new ways to manage.

Each workshop meets once a week for six weeks and has about eight young people around the same age in attendance. Workshops run regularly every few months.

Workshop overview

Week 1 – Introductions, what is self harm?
Week 2 – Self harm, stigma and some theory for why
people self harm
Week 3 – Emotions and keeping calm
Week 4 – Coping strategies 
Week 5 – Reaching out and self compassion
Week 6 – Summary