Supporting Children and Young People who Self-Harm (am session)
Children and young people self-harm for many different reasons and in many different ways. The reason or way they self-harm may be different each time too. And sometimes they may self-harm but not realise until afterwards. Over the past 40 years, there has been a large increase in the number of young people who deliberately harm themselves. Looked after children and young people (LACYP) are a vulnerable population. Entry into care is associated with numerous adverse health, social, and economic outcomes across the life-course. There is evidence to suggest that status as a LACYP predicts self-harm, suicide ideation and attempts. Children in care and care leavers are at increased risk of hurting themselves as a result of adverse backgrounds and continuing stress. Because of difficult and in many cases traumatising backgrounds, children in care and care leavers are more at risk both of hurting themselves and completing suicide. A recent study by the University of Bristol found that one in five children in care in England were self-harming and likely to have mental ill health during the Covid-19 pandemic and high levels of self harm have continued. Furthermore, this has escalated dramatically in the era of social media and in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic. Working with children and young people who self-harm also can present significant challenges and distress for those who are supporting them.
AIMS
- To promote a better understanding of why children and young people self-harm
- To explore the current increases in self- harm and links with the use of social media and post-COVID pressures on children and young people
- To enable those who work with children and young people who self-harm to assess and manage related risks in particular those relating to children in foster care .
- To offer a range of responses and support tools in the face of self-harm, both in the immediate aftermath and over the longer term.
- To explore further sources of support including referral/signposting to external agencies
- To ensure that those who support and work with self-harm know how to manage their own distress and concerns.
OBJECTIVES
- Be aware of levels of risk and appropriate responses.
- Be familiar with a range of support tools and coping strategies for children and young people who self-harm.
- Be informed about local and national agencies that can offer further support.
- Have strategies for managing your own distress and fears around self-harm.
Suicide Awareness for Foster Carers (PM session)
Some looked after children and young people have suicidal thoughts and are at risk. People who care for them are often aware that the children and young people in their care are feeling angry and sad and they want to find ways to help them keep safe. Protecting children and young people from contemplating suicide is not an isolated activity; it needs to be part of a holistic approach to their overall care and development. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in children and young people and may be linked to many factors, including: poor mental health; self-harm; academic pressures or worries; bullying; social isolation; family environment and bereavement; relationship problems; substance misuse; or neglect. Risk factors are cumulative over the life course, and adverse childhood experiences, deprivation, and poor physical health also contribute to the risk. Suicide represents the extreme endpoint of mental ill-health in children and young people. Many more young people may either have either have suicidal ideation or attempt suicide. Concern about possible suicidality is a major cause of concern amongst those that care for young people.
AIMS
- To develop greater awareness around suicide in the young and to distinguish it from self-harm discussed above.
- To explore the prevalence and patterns in suicide amongst the young including post-COVID pressures, the role of social media and ‘suicide clusters’
- To enable those who work with children and young people who self-harm to assess and manage risks relating to suicide.
- To offer a range of responses and support tools in the face of suicidality, both in an immediate situation and over the longer term
- To explore further sources of support including referral/signposting to external agencies
- To ensure that those who support and work with young people who may be suicidal know how to manage their own distress and fears.
OBJECTIVES
- Be more confident and aware when supporting children and young people who may be suicidal.
- Be aware of levels of risk and appropriate responses.
- Be familiar with a range of support tools and options for young people who have felt suicidal.
- Be informed about local and national agencies that can offer further support
- Have strategies for managing your own distress and fears around suicidality