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self harm ~ Youth
Charities Reveal Bullying and Loneliness as a Major Trigger
A recent poll, conducted
for self harm Awareness Day, reveals that one in four young people
who self harm started due to bullying, with 61% saying they do it
because they feel alone.
ChildLine, Selfharm.co.uk, YouthNet and YoungMinds have collaborated
once again in support of self harm Awareness Day (1 March). To help
understand the key reasons why young people begin to self harm, the
charities conducted a survey and received an overwhelming response
from almost 4,000 young people aged 25 and under. More than
16% of survey respondents were from across Northern England, a total
of 665 children and young people.
Feeling 'alone' and being 'bullied' were highlighted
as the key triggers that lead young people to self harm for the
first time. One in four of respondents named 'bullying'
as
the biggest reason for hurting themselves and 61% of respondents
said that the event leading them to self harm had made them feel
'alone'.
More than 38% of respondents admitted that, other than online, they
had never spoken to anyone about their self harming.
Each year, the charities see increased demand for services as more
and more young people are trying to reach out for support. ChildLine
alone have seen a staggering 41% increase in counselling sessions
where self harm was mentioned.
During 2012-2013, more than 10,492 children and young people from
across the UK spoke to counsellors at the ChildLine bases in the
North West, in Manchester and Liverpool either on the telephone or
online about self -harm.
One young person who contacted a counsellor at one of the North West
bases said:- "I feel so depressed at the moment. I'm barely
sleeping or eating because I just feel so down. I'm being bullied at
school so I've started self harming. My family are being really
supportive but I don't know if I can stop. Sometimes I just think
about ending it all."
Christine Mellor, ChildLine Area
Manager for the North West said:- "There are many reasons why
young people might self harm. It's a way of dealing with
overwhelming feelings that can feel very difficult to cope with and
young people tell us that physical pain helps them cope with the
emotional pain. We have seen a significant rise in the amount of
children contacting ChildLine about self harm.
Although self harm is not a new problem, sharing images of self harm
on social media sites is a worrying new development. I would urge
young people seeking advice or support on this issue to contact ChildLine, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on:-
0800 1111 or go to:- ChildLine.org.uk. Calls don't appear on
telephone bills."
When asked about their coping techniques, respondents rated
'listening to music' (45%) as the best way to stop themselves
from harming. This was followed by 'talking to friends and family'
(15%), which coupled with the admission that 38% have never spoken
to anyone about their self harm, highlights the increasing
importance of breaking taboos around this issue and encouraging
people to talk more openly.
Rachel Welch from Selfharm.co.uk, speaking on behalf of the
charities said:- "Really tackling the issue of self harm among
young people means not only recognising the situations and feelings
that lead them to take this path but also ensuring that those in a
position to help them recognise the early signs of self harm and how
best to support them.
Young people themselves can also be a source of support for each
other. As part of the survey, we asked young people to tell us their
distraction or coping techniques and share their own messages to
raise awareness of self harm and break some of the common myths. We
received a fantastic response and will be sharing these messages via
our websites and social media for a week after self harm Awareness
Day."
Sharing her own message in support of others affected by
self harm,
Becky, an 18 year old who volunteers for selfharm.co.uk said:-
"By bringing self harm into the light and speaking about it
openly we send an important message - 'You are not alone, help is
always out there and there is always hope'."
Rachel continued:- "Many young people told us that they wanted
people to know their self harm wasn't about attention seeking. It's
so sad that young people are facing this stigma and being labelled
rather than getting the support they need."
The charities want everyone to be able to recognise the initial
signs of self harm and support young people to know that they are
not alone. You can find out more about the campaign on each of the
charities' websites or by follow their campaign on Twitter via #selfharmawarenessday.
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Multi-million
pound pot for victims' services welcomed
SPECIALIST victims'
services in Lancashire could be boosted after the Government
announced £12m in funding for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs).
The multi-million pound funding pot is earmarked for providing
further specialist services for victims of the most serious crimes
and those who are classed as "vulnerable" – and Lancashire's
PCC will be able to bid to bring a slice of the cash to the county.
Responsibility for commissioning victims' services in the county
will fall to Clive Grunshaw from the autumn, and significant
research has already been undertaken in Lancashire to establish what
support victims want and need locally.
And the Commissioner said:- "I will certainly be interested in
bidding to the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) for additional funding for
victims in Lancashire.
More support for specialist resources to help the victims in the
greatest need would clearly be a positive thing for the county. It
has become apparent through extensive research undertaken by my
office that very often the support available for victims isn't good
enough. Some feel they have been let down by the very system which
was designed to protect and care for them; and this is something I
am committed to changing. There are positive stories, and examples
of good practice, and I want every victim in the county to be able
to experience those.
We are in the midst of developing clear commissioning intentions for
the county – in consultation with residents and professionals – and
I hope our dedication to establishing the best services for
Lancashire will be recognised by the MoJ when it comes to awarding
this funding.
As soon as more information is available about to how to bid for
this money, I can reassure residents I will be doing my utmost to
bring some of it to Lancashire to benefit those most in need."
This additional funding, which would be on top of the Commissioner's
budget for commissioning victims' services in 2014/15, will be to
provide specialist support services to victims who fall into the
priority categories within the Victims' Code. These are victims of
the most serious crime, persistently targeted victims, and
vulnerable or intimidated victims.
In Lancashire, the Commissioner is continuing to consult on his
draft commissioning intentions, and wants to urge as many residents
as possible; particularly those who have been victims of crime or
who have had contact with existing services; to give their views.
Ascot Property
Group to Supply Car Parking for Royal Liverpool Hospital Build
WATERLOO based Ascot
Property Group is to supply a 165 space car park on Low Hill for the
use of Carillion workers and subcontractors during the build of the
new Royal Liverpool Hospital.
Carillion has already begun work on the new hospital, which will
stand behind the current facility, on the corner of West Derby
Street and Low Hill and is estimated to cost £335 million to
complete. The car park will be in situ for the duration of the
build, which is estimated to complete in 2017.
Ascot bought the 2 acre site on Low Hill, which was previously home
to Plumb Centre and Build Centre stores, from Wolseley in 2012.
Remediation work has now taken place to ensure the safety of the
ground and the car park will open soon.
Stuart Howard of Ascot Property Group said:- "We are pleased
that Ascot is able to play a part in this landmark project for the
City."
The new Royal is planned to be the largest hospital in the country
and one of only a small number of NHS hospitals to provide all
single en-suite bedrooms for patients, with a view to improving
privacy and dignity, while also reducing risk of infection.
Services at the current Royal Liverpool Hospital will continue as
normal for the duration of the build. The building will then be
demolished when services have been moved to the new site.
Established over 25 years, Ascot Property Group is a property
development and commercial property agency with a number of sites
across Liverpool and The Wirral.
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