Are there other sources of support I can access by telephone that might be helpful for me to use when the helpline is closed? Expand There are other sources of support that provide listening and understanding, both specifically about self-injury and about other issues please see the list below for suggestions. Alternative Sources of Support The SamaritansHelpline - 116 123 (FREE to call)24/7 support for anyone in distress. ShoutCrisis Text Line (FREE on all major mobile networks) - 8525824/7 support for anyone struggling or in a state of crisis at any time, from anywhere. MIND InfolineInformation about mental health services, treatment and support: 0300 123 3393Open 9am-6pm, Mon-Fri. National Rape CrisisHelpline - 0808 802 9999 (FREE to call)Open 24/7
What if I tell you about someone who is hurting me or someone else? Expand If you have told us who and where you are and you gave us details of someone who is abusing you or someone else, we would have to pass that on to the authorities. We will let you know that we would have to do this. It is always your choice about whether you tell us your details and we will not ask for them. We are not able to trace calls, IP addresses or your location. If you have told us who and where you are and you ask us to report a situation where you are at risk we can do this. However, as we are only open limited hours we are not well set up to make reports - we recommend the agencies below who are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and have processes to do this: Women’s Aid Webchat Service (Mon-Fri 8:00am - 6:00pm, Sat & Sun 10:00am-6:00pm) Refuge National Domestic Violence and Abuse Helpline - 0808 2000 247 (FREE to call) Childline Helpline - 0800 1111 (FREE to call). Help and advice for young people about a wide range of issues. Webchat and email support is also available. The Police 999 (emergency number) or 101 (non-emergency number)
What if I am feeling suicidal? Expand We often speak to people who are feeling suicidal. We can support you and listen to your feelings about not wanting to live. If you have taken something or have injured yourself and you are concerned, we will continue talking to you but might gently encourage you to seek medical help. If you have told us your name and where you are and that you have taken action towards suicide or intend to right away, we may have to contact emergency services for you. It is always your choice about whether you tell us your details and we will not ask for them. We are not able to trace your call or find out where you are. We hope that if you are still contacting us then a part of you wants to be heard and understood, and we will absolutely listen and support you.
What if I have hurt myself a lot? Do you give medical advice? Expand We are not medically trained and do not give any kind of medical advice. If you have hurt yourself and are worried, we encourage you to seek medical attention by calling an ambulance or going to A&E or other medical support. If you're unsure what to do, you can call 111. They can give you medical support over the phone and advise you on what to do. If you're speaking to us and you've told us who and where you are and we think that what you have done has put you at risk of significant harm or death, we would have to call an ambulance. We understand this might be frightening, but we can continue to support you over text. However, we would have to end a helpline call at this point to speak to emergency services, so we could not continue to support you over the phone. It is always your choice about whether you tell us your details and we will never ask for them. We are not able to trace calls, IP addresses or your location. You can find more information on harm minimisation and wound care by following these links: Limiting Damage/Harm Minimisation First Aid Caring for Wounds and Scars
What if I don't want to stop self-harming? Expand We understand that self-harm is a coping strategy for many people who contact us, and we place no expectation on anyone who contacts us to stop using self-harm. We can support you to talk about how self-harm helps you – it's entirely up to you what you talk about with us.
What if I want to stop self-harming? Expand We always offer support around how you feel, but if you are looking to understand your self-injury, learn other coping strategies or ways of trying to stop self-harming we can support you with this too. We won't tell you what to do, but we can discuss your feelings about what you might want to do next and support you to better understand your emotions and experiences. We have lots of experience of working with self-harm and understand it is not easy to stop. We also appreciate that even if you have moved away from self-harm, you may still think about it or have urges to go back to it - we can support you with that too. For further help you could also try looking at our 'How do I stop?' advice and information page.
I don't know if what I do is self-harm. Can I still contact you? Expand Self-harm is experienced differently by everyone and our services are open to anyone who feels we could help them. We don’t ask people to say what they do, and we would never ask anyone to justify contacting us.
What if I get really upset? Expand Lots of people who contact us are distressed and experiencing difficult emotions. You are absolutely welcome to express your emotions openly here, without fear of judgement.
What if I don't know what to say? Expand You don’t have to say anything when you call us – we know that it can be difficult to find the right words, particularly if you're feeling upset or anxious. We will stay on the phone with you whether you speak or not, and understand that making a connection with someone else in silence can be helpful.
Do I have to talk about self-harm? Expand No – we understand that for many people self-harm is a way to cope with life events or very strong feelings, and that it may be useful for you to discuss those things instead. We also appreciate that speaking about self-injury can feel painful or upsetting. We let you lead the conversation and will never pressure you to talk about anything you don't want to. All our volunteers have had specialist training around self-harm and will support you to talk about whatever you feel is useful when you get in touch.
Is it okay to talk about my self-harm? Expand Of course. We understand the issues around self-harm and invite you to talk about it in our confidential, non-judgemental environment. We also know self-injury can be hard to talk about, and some people contact us a number of times before they feel able to discuss self-harm or other sensitive issues. We will absolutely respect and appreciate the pace you choose to speak at and how much you're comfortable to share.
Do I have to tell you my name? Expand No. We do not ask any personal information about you and we do not expect you to give it. We understand that sometimes people not knowing who you are can make it easier to talk about difficult things or about what is going on in your life. If you If you have told us who or where you are and we think that you are at risk of significant harm or death we would have to tell someone what you have told us. The same applies if you have given us information about who or where someone else is and we think this person is at risk of significant harm or death. Please bear in mind that if you give us any information, it stays on our system. That information could be linked together at a later date to find you if we were worried about your safety. As an organisation we share safeguarding concerns across our services. It is always your choice about whether you tell us your details and we will not ask for them. We cannot trace calls or IP addresses.
What will happen when I call? Expand When you call we will answer ‘Hello, Self Injury Support’ and then give you space to talk. We can give you support for half an hour each time we're open, and will let you know when we are coming to the end of the call. You're very welcome to ask us questions about how the service works and we can give you more information. Our calls are anonymous for both you and the person you speak to, so we don't share names or personal information, but all our volunteers are here to offer you warm, empathetic emotional support.
Who answers the phone? Expand All calls are answered by specially trained volunteers. All volunteers take part in training about self-harm and offering non-judgmental, non-directional support to callers.
Who do you support? Expand We support people of any age and gender who feel a self-injury listening service is right for them. On Monday nights, we’ll be staffed by volunteers of all genders. We understand that many people who’ve contacted us in the past appreciated that we were made up of self-identifying women volunteers, and we felt it was important to preserve this space, so on Thursdays we’ll be staffed by self-identifying women only. However, all genders are welcome to contact us on both nights – we will happily support people of any gender, every time we’re open. If you're not sure if we are the right place for you to seek support, we are really happy to explore this with you, and work out whether we feel like a service that could be helpful to you. If you are worried about a friend or relative who is self-injuring you can get support from us too. We don't give advice, but will give you the time and space to talk about whatever you need.