Back to top

Self-harm

Develop understanding of self-harm and identify helpful responses to working with individuals who self-harm.

Half day. For your team. Delivered in-person.

Self-harm

 

Course overview:

Develop understanding of self-harm as a spectrum of behaviours, the reasons why someone may use self-injury and the challenges for staff and volunteers when providing support. Drawing on the views of people who self-harm and up to date evidenced based guidance, participants gain information about the needs of people who self-harm and helpful responses and strategies that can enable someone to improve their emotional wellbeing.

This course explores the difference between self-harming behaviours and suicidal thinking and also the links with potential risk for some individuals.

 

Aim(s):

To develop understanding of self-harm and responses that are helpful.

 

Objectives:

By the end of the course participants will have had opportunities to:

  • Develop understanding about self harm and reflect on the potential challenges for staff and volunteers when providing support
  • Think about helpful responses, drawing on the views of people who use self harm and up to date evidenced based guidance
  • Recognise the difference between self harming behaviours and suicidal thinking and also the links with potential risk for some individuals

 

Maximum group size: 16

 

In-person training – we ask you to provide a suitable venue and refreshments.

Enquire or book in a meeting with us

Your trainer(s)

Suzanne Pearson

Suzanne Pearson is a BABCP Accredited CBT therapist and a Registered Mental Health Nurse. She also has a PGCE in Adult Education. Suzanne has extensive and ongoing experience of supporting individuals to develop their resilience and well-being, and in supporting those recovering from mental and emotional distress.

 

She has worked in the NHS and voluntary sector as a therapist, mental health practitioner and service manager. Currently she provides a low cost in-person and online CBT therapy service for adults. Suzanne has been a longstanding volunteer with a peer led self-help group for people who self-harm, and she has also volunteered for a national out of hours crisis service.

 

She continues to be involved with various local mental health related charities as an advisor. She is an experienced independent mental health and social care trainer including being a qualified instructor for the Mental Health First Aid (Adult and Youth) and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) courses.

Ben Howie

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Ut rhoncus donec commodo laoreet tortor nibh molestie at. Vitae neque ullamcorper nulla scelerisque aliquet vulputate fringilla nisl. Amet non cursus pellentesque urna eget maecenas mi in massa. Et nisi ornare aliquet faucibus mattis varius tellus faucibus morbi. Tincidunt dolor nam in morbi in diam egestas ut. Donec id felis ac lorem. Vel praesent dignissim lorem velit sed. Nam quis vulputate aliquet amet nulla tellus dui volutpat sapien. Lobortis tristique sit proin ut accumsan.

trainingexstg

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Ut rhoncus donec commodo laoreet tortor nibh molestie at. Vitae neque ullamcorper nulla scelerisque aliquet vulputate fringilla nisl.

What people say

"Inclusive, well-paced, professional, kind and informative training. I left wanting to learn more."

Volunteer mentor, Second Step, November 2025

“Open and non-judgmental discussion with people with varied job roles/experiences. Hearing real accounts and lived experience was helpful. I found the online learning to be positive - the group size was great as it allowed for many different perspectives, without being overwhelmed. Thank you.”

Course participant, October 2024

“All was useful. Relating self-harm to everyday things we do, and having a very non-judgemental and comfortable space to discuss our own views in.”

Course participant, October 2024

"Psychological, biological, environmental context and understanding of historical and social factors linked to behaviour. All very relevant. Suzanne shared her depth and breadth of her knowledge and experience. Very good. Thank you."

Course participant

Related courses

The Training Exchange

Self-harm

Half day

For your team

Delivered online

The Training Exchange

Self-harm & suicide intervention

Half day

For your team

Delivered online

The Training Exchange

Self-harm

Half day

For individuals

Delivered online

120 +VAT

Tailored approach

If you can’t find what you’re looking for contact us. Our network of associate trainers cover many more areas of expertise.

All of our courses can be adapted for your organisation or region. We’ll work with you to design flexible or bespoke responses to meet specific individual and organisation needs.

Case studies

Case studies

Mental wellbeing in action

Case studies

Training for trainers in practice

Case studies

Supporting continuous learning in the NHS

Consultancy & projects

Rowan Miller and Dawn Taylor lead on The Training Exchange Consultancy; together they bring over 50 years’ experience of leadership and management. If you have ideas or a vision you want to explore they will connect you with the right specialist consultant to shape practice and design better services.

Related courses (this is content editable)