Self-injury awareness day happened on 1 March in the UK, and was an opportunity to deeply understand self-harm.
There are a number of reasons why people self-harm: certain triggers linked to a traumatic event or finding physical pain easier to cope with than emotional injury. It is important to examine these reasons individually, to best determine how to help.
One-on-one sessions, group work, or sometimes sensory self-care packs can all help self-harming children. Care packs contain things that can help with numbness and distress, based on earlier experiences with their social worker or therapist, and which make them feel safe or decreases their stress levels. Envoking the five senses can help children focus on the here and now instead of thinking about a traumatic event, emotional pain or further problems.
You can find out more about self-harm at the Children's Society resource vault.