Supporting students who self-harm can be challenging. However, with the right resources and strategies, teachers can make a significant difference.
These self harm support resources are from SORTS – a team of academic psychologists at the University of Cambridge. The team co-developed the resources with mental health professionals, school staff and young people. This ensures they are both practical and sensitive.
These tools aim to empower education settings to take a whole-school approach to self-harm prevention and intervention.
What’s included?
Key resources include information sheets for parents and students that explain self-harm in an accessible and non-judgemental way. This helps families better understand and support young people.
For teachers, there are guides to recognising the signs and responding to self-harm, including important dos and don’ts, so you feel confident when addressing these sensitive situations.
The resources also cover the cycle of self-harm and common risk factors, enabling staff to identify underlying causes and patterns.
Self harm resources
To help students manage overwhelming feelings, there is advice on coping with big emotions. Worksheets like ‘My Safety Net’ and ‘My Support Plan’ encourage students to identify their support networks and develop strategies for staying safe.
For incidents requiring documentation, the self-harm incident form ensures a structured and thorough approach to reporting, while the follow-up letter to parents helps you clearly communicate between school and home.
The SORTS website includes training and information to help school staff recognise and respond to young people who self-harm. The SORTS e-learning module is designed to give you the essential knowledge and skills you need to offer a supportive response to students who self-harm. There are also videos you can watch on the website.
