Southend Essex and Thurrock Self Harm Management Toolkit

Southend, Essex and Thurrock Self Harm Management Toolkit Key messages for schools Frederick Van Heerden Mental health clinician

Before we start………. . • Emotional wellbeing - health and safety!

Background: • • • Future in Mind: transformation of children’s mental health Five year local transformation plan ‘Open Up, Reach Out’ Review of suicide prevention guidance document – 2015/2016.

Process………. 1. We’ve looked at data, evidence and best practice. 2. Partners identified who worked on the Toolkit. 3. Draft Toolkit produced. 4. Consultation.

Consultation and feedback: • Essex school safeguarding forums • Schools and school nurses – Essex • Education, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), Essex County Council (ECC) • Social care staff, ECC • Responses from suicide prevention toolkit focus groups (2016) • Youth service, ECC • Virgin Care, 0 -19 Service, Essex • Directors of Nursing, North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) • Clinical feedback across the Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service (EWMHS) • Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) – Basildon & Brentwood, Thurrock, Mid Essex • Named nurses - CCGs • Public health – Thurrock • Voluntary sector • District council – Harlow • Southend consultation feedback • Young people engagement feedback – NELFT.

“It’s good to TALK but even better to be HEARD. ”

So what does the Toolkit look like………? SET emotional wellbeing and mental health information portal for schools: https: //schools. essex. gov. uk/pupils/Emotional_Wellbei ng_and_Mental_Health_Information_Portal_for_School s/Pages/Risk-Taking-Behaviour. aspx

What is Self Harm? The term “self harm” is used to describe a wide range of behaviours. Self harm is often understood to be a physical response to an emotional pain. It can be seen as an intentional act of damaging or injuring one’s body, irrespective of apparent motivation, though is usually a way of expressing or coping with overwhelming emotional distress. Video from Mind around information on self harm: youtube. com/watch? v=f. SEt. Ubc 8 JDU

Aims of the Self Harm Management Toolkit • Increase school staff understanding and awareness of emotional wellbeing difficulties for young people • Support staff to be aware of risk factors and signs that are associated with emotional distress self harming behaviour in young people • Provide guidance for educational settings (and staff within them) dealing with students who present with emotional distress and self harming behaviour • Raise awareness in educational settings of what support is available locally in dealing with young people who find themselves in emotional turmoil • Provide online support references to school staff, parents and young people.

Toolkit – Key Sections • • . Spotting the signs How do you respond Assessing risk Confidentiality and information sharing Talking to children and young people Do’s and don’ts Distraction/coping strategies.

Roles and Responsibilities • What is your individual responsibility? • What is in place to help you manage this? • Schools own safeguarding procedures; what do they do in house/support child young person to do, how do they escalate through their own safeguarding routes?

Key Dos – Full Details Page 15 Toolkit • Make time. Talk to the child or young person about their selfharming • Listen to what is being said and check your understanding • Respond with concern rather than anxiety or distaste • Find out how they are feeling – are there ups and downs? Are there underlying difficulties? • Ask about existing coping strategies and suggest additional strategies • Act appropriately in line with policy of confidentiality • Speak to other agencies or nominated people within the parameters of confidentiality • Look after yourself; ensure you have someone to support you and talk things through with.

Key don’ts – Full details page 15 Toolkit • Don’t tell them to stop self harming or give them an ultimatum • Do not ignore self harm however superficial it may seem to you, or assume someone else is already helping them • Do not make judgements or promises you can’t keep.

Additional support/resources available • Please make use of the extensive support and advice contained within the Toolkit • The appendices section contains a wealth of information and support around children and young people’s mental health.