What do you think of our content ideas for a new self harm awareness campaign?

Former Member

Hi everyone  

The Mix's content team are working on some ideas to raise awareness about self harm and break the stigma around talking about it. We want to talk about safe alternatives to self harm and provide support to those who are self harming and those who are on a journey towards recovery.

We'd really love your feedback on our ideas for article and video content so please choose your favourite and feel free to add comments and suggestions!

Siena

How can I talk to my friend about their self harming?

Heyy

HollyPearl said:

We want to talk about safe alternatives to self harm and provide support to those who are self harming and those who are on a journey towards recovery. 

I hope you dont make the article out that you Have to stop self harming to be on road to recovery. Or have to use "safe" alternatives because self harm can actually be safe. Or makeOut  that everyone should recover from self harm

Its just most articles i see on self harm make self harm seem like youre not managing andhow unwell they are and need an alterative. When self harm is literally can be a way someone controls their emotions and dont always need to recover from it. 
 And i just think if someone doesnt want to stop self harming or is not unsafe with it then dont need alternatives and assume need to stop. Only suggest it if they cant self harm safely or want to stop. Which is what i got taught in my peer support training so probs why think it. And  is why i dont really like the last two depending on how theyre worded.  and maybe the one above that too ("safe" alternatives) just cause of the word "safe" (self harm can be safe) and depending on how you put that across for those who dont see a problem or a reason to find an alternative. And finding the signs of self harm seem like its because its a problem so need to stop when not always but i guess that ones okay cause its like signs of someone strugling and need help for how they feel. Sometimes when found out someone self harms people are striaght on them for trying to stop it when i dont think should be always the case more about how feel

But yeah thats just my opinion

i like "Interview with a self-harm expert" and "How can I talk to my friend about their self harming?"

Former Member

How I recovered from self harm (a real life story)

This one would be nice, probably encouraging for those struggling too and that it does get better

Former Member

How I recovered from self harm (a real life story)

After watching that show on channel 4 about mental health emergency crisis. I do think a real story would be informative and beneficial to many others as it's believed self harm cases have doubled over the years in under 18s and I think people should get to see others stories and how they recovered etc 

Former Member

Shaunie said:

HollyPearl said:

We want to talk about safe alternatives to self harm and provide support to those who are self harming and those who are on a journey towards recovery.

I hope you dont make the article out that you Have to stop self harming to be on road to recovery. Or have to use "safe" alternatives because self harm can actually be safe. Or makeOut  that everyone should recover from self harm

Its just most articles i see on self harm make self harm seem like youre not managing andhow unwell they are and need an alterative. When self harm is literally can be a way someone controls their emotions and dont always need to recover from it. 
 And i just think if someone doesnt want to stop self harming or is not unsafe with it then dont need alternatives and assume need to stop. Only suggest it if they cant self harm safely or want to stop. Which is what i got taught in my peer support training so probs why think it. And  is why i dont really like the last two depending on how theyre worded.  and maybe the one above that too ("safe" alternatives) just cause of the word "safe" (self harm can be safe) and depending on how you put that across for those who dont see a problem or a reason to find an alternative. And finding the signs of self harm seem like its because its a problem so need to stop when not always but i guess that ones okay cause its like signs of someone strugling and need help for how they feel. Sometimes when found out someone self harms people are striaght on them for trying to stop it when i dont think should be always the case more about how feel

But yeah thats just my opinion

i like "Interview with a self-harm expert" and "How can I talk to my friend about their self harming?"

Thanks so much for your detailed feedback, @Shaunie, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts on the content ideas. I understand that you see self-harm as a legitimate coping mechanism which can be safe, but I just wanted to clarify that when we talk about recovery, we mean recovery from the methods of self harm that are actually harming you in some way. In our approach to the campaign, we completely accept that self harm happens and understand that people use it as a way to cope with things they might find difficult. Through this campaign, we want to educate people about the safe alternatives that can be part of a process of recovery. 

 

We also want to make it clear that recovery can mean many things and that someone can be self harming and still on the path to recovery; perhaps they may be doing it less, or using less harmful methods. Our main aim is to provide a supportive space for people to talk about self harm and learn how to stay safe, or to support others who may be going through it. How does that sound?

GreenTea said:

This one would be nice, probably encouraging for those struggling too and that it does get better

Thanks for your feedback @GreenTea We'll try and include this piece.

Aidan said:

I like the real life story, I agree it would be encouraging and also informative to see real-life success stories.

Self harm affects a lot of young people and it's important the information is there so they can get help.

TW some self-harm facts

More than half of people who die by suicide have a history of self-harm.
It's estimated around 10% of young people self-harm at some point, but people of all ages do.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/self-harm/

Self-harm is the single biggest cause of death of people aged 20-24 in the UK, research has found. [for 2013]
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/self-harm-biggest-cause-of-death-for-young-people-in-the-uk-study-finds-a7022456.html

With the right help and support most people who self-harm can and do fully recover.
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/truth-about-self-harm

Thanks so much Aidan for your feedback and for passing on this useful information, it's really helpful. We'll definitely try to include some real life stories in our content

GreenTea said:

After watching that show on channel 4 about mental health emergency crisis. I do think a real story would be informative and beneficial to many others as it's believed self harm cases have doubled over the years in under 18s and I think people should get to see others stories and how they recovered etc 

This is a really good point, it's so powerful to show people's stories and something we really want to include in our content. Thank you!

Former Member

How I recovered from self harm (a real life story)

HollyPearl said:

GreenTea said:

After watching that show on channel 4 about mental health emergency crisis. I do think a real story would be informative and beneficial to many others as it's believed self harm cases have doubled over the years in under 18s and I think people should get to see others stories and how they recovered etc 

This is a really good point, it's so powerful to show people's stories and something we really want to include in our content. Thank you!

Yes!!! I follow a lot of Instagram and Twitter accounts that tell their stories and it helps me realise that I'm not alone and that things can be ok, just not today. I honestly do think there's something powerful about the stories of others!