Funded by The City of Edinburgh Council, Penumbra has a community outreach project in Edinburgh for young people who self-harm.
Area Served (geographical and population)
The Project focuses on the support needs of 16-25 year olds who self-harm in the City of Edinburgh.
Type of Project
The project provides informal emotional support. It is a non-judgemental, young person friendly and user led support service to young people who self-harm in Edinburgh. It also explores the needs of family/carers and professional in contact with them.
Project Aims
Provide a service with which young people who self-harm will engage to help them explore issues around their self-harm thereby reducing their higher risk of suicide. The project is committed to recognising that young people are the experts in their own lives.
Project Objectives
- Establish and support the development of individual support and support groups for young people who self-harm.
- Explore the needs of parents/carers and professionals in relation to self-harm.
- Liaise with agencies working with groups particularly affected i.e Looked After, Homeless, LGBT etc.
- Bring together the interested groups around common issues to inform the future development of services to young people who self-harm.
- Establish links with and keep appropriate planning groups informed of developments.
- Promote good practice in this field across all agencies.
- Promote the involvement of young people who self-harm in informing future planning in this field.
- Make accessible and available resource material for organisations and individuals.
- Liaise with other interested groups locally, nationally and internationally.
- Collaborate with local press and media to reduce stigma and inform the general population on the needs of this group.
What We Do
We have appointed three workers, a support manager, Angus Mackenzie, and two project workers, to develop and support a young people-led support service for young people who self-harm in Edinburgh including:-
- 1:1 support
- Groupwork
- Provide self-harm awareness raising for a range of agencies
- Liaison with agencies in contact with young people to identify and respond to particularly "at risk" groups
The Project works alongside a range of agencies working with young people to help young people address the underlying issues which lead them to self-harm and ultimately reduce the suicide risk among this group. This includes helping young people and agencies identify the most appropriate type of support and signpost people in these directions.
How do I refer?
We accept self referrals and refer from any agency, preferably those in contact with homeless young people, LGBT and looked after children and young people. The referral process is either by phone or in writing to the address below. To download a referral form click here.
Click here to read the Edinburgh Self-Harm Project's Annual Report 2007-2008.
For further information contact:
Edinburgh Self Harm Project
(2F1) 6 Cambridge Street
Edinburgh
EH1 2DY
Tel 0131 229 6262
Fax 0131 229 9122
E-mail: linda.connolly@penumbra.org.uk
© Penumbra, 2003. All rights reserved.
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