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This is how we share information and good practices relating to mental health and wellbeing support in schools and colleges

What's New

NEWS: Michael Syddall Accreditation

14th May 2024

Michael Syddall CofE (Aided) Primary School in Richmond, North Yorkshire receive AcSEED Award

NEWS: Sherborne House Accreditation

16th January 2024

Sherborne House School in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire receive AcSEED Award

NEWS: The AcSEED Newsletter

28th July 2022

AcSEED Newsletter for July 2022

NEWS: UK Government blog

21st July 2022

What we are doing to improve the mental health of children and young people

NEWS: AcSEED at MHW Show 2022

11th May 2022

AcSEED were a presenter and exhibitor at the Mental Health and Wellbeing show in Cardiff on 10th May 2022

NEWS: Wistaston Accreditation

25th April 2022

Wistaston Church Lane Academy in Crewe, Cheshire receive AcSEED Award

NEWS: Gorse Hall Accreditation

7th April 2022

Gorse Hall Primary and Nursery School in Stalybridge, Cheshire receive AcSEED Award

NEWS: Crosby High Accreditation

7th April 2022

Crosby High School in Crosby, Merseyside receive AcSEED Award

NEWS: St Olave's Accreditation

1st April 2022

St Olave's Grammer School in Orpington, Kent receive AcSEED Award

NEWS: St Paul's Accreditation

19th August 2021

St Paul's Church of England Primary School in Stalybridge, Cheshire receive AcSEED Award

NEWS: The AcSEED Newsletter

14th December 2020

AcSEED Newsletter for December 2020

NEWS: On-line Wellbeing Support

11th December 2020

Kooth: An on-line Mental Health Support Platform

NEWS: Mental Health in Schools Conference

11th November 2020

Report from the Westminster Insight conference on Mental Health and Wellbeing in Schools

NEWS: Fairfield Road Accreditation

20th October 2020

Fairfield Road Primary School receive AcSEED Award

NEWS: Newport Girls' get AcSEED Award

31st August 2020

Congratulations to Newport Girls' High School in Shropshire ...

NEWS: First AcSEED Wellbeing Centre

25th June 2019

Trinity School and College opens the first AcSEED Wellbeing Centre

Self Harm on the increase

23rd October 2012 ... Charlotte

Today YoungMinds released new findings on self harm in young people. After conducting extensive research the charity found that three quarters of young people do not know who they can talk to about self harm. Further more two thirds of teachers do not know what to say if they realise a young person is self harming.

The study which involved 2500 participants including teachers and young people revealed self harm was of bigger concern than bullying and drug use. The number of young people admitted to hospital following self harm has risen by 68% over the last ten years.

The research exposed that there was a gap in support for young people who self harm. Ninety seven percent of young people believe the topic of self harm should be covered in schools yet only one in three teachers believe this is happening. Teachers admitted to feeing less comfortable talking about self harm than they did discussing other harmful behaviours.

So why is there such a big taboo around the subject of self harm? As human beings we are conditioned to survive and keep ourselves safe. We live to pass on our genes to the next generation and ensure the survival of our species. With this in mind let's consider it in relation to the stigma around self harm. In my experience individuals who do not have personal experience of self harm find it an incredibly difficult behaviour to comprehend. Could this be due to our innate instinct to remain safe and out of harm which self harm appears to contradict?

So why is self harm on the increase in young people? There are many reasons that could be behind this. There are certainly many pressures which today's young people have to face from academic targets to appearance expectations. Self harm is discussed more, even if this in a negative context than it was twenty years ago. Could this be related to the increase? We need to strive to achieve a balance between discussing the issue in an empathetic way and giving the message that self harm is a healthy coping mechanism.

What does come out of today's finding is that self harm is an increasing concern for society and there is a lot of work to be done to improve the confidence of professionals such as teachers and allow young people to feel comfortable in seeking support.

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