The Scottish Government and COSLA have published a mid-term report on Scotland’s Self-Harm Strategy and Action Plan, showing progress made during the first 18 months of delivery.

Penumbra’s Self-Harm Network Scotland (SHNS) has been a key delivery partner since the strategy launched in November 2023, working closely with the Scottish Government and COSLA.

The new report shows progress made across the strategy’s three priorities, reflects on the change achieved so far, and sets out next steps.

Since the strategy was published, SHNS launched a website to support people who self-harm, to expand and deepen knowledge and compassionate understanding of self-harm and tackle stigma and discrimination.

As part of this work, SHNS launched a dedicated website offering free information, tools and resources for:

• people who self-harm
• loved ones of people who self-harm
• professionals who work with people who self-harm

In the first 18 months of the implementation of the Self-Harm Strategy, the website reached 26,727 people, and tools to support people who self-harm were downloaded 860 times.

SHNS has continued to build accessible, person-centred support across Scotland.

New peer support and Live Chat services on the SHNS website provide direct support from Peer Practitioners with lived experience of self-harm. In the first 18 months:

• 2,988 one-to-one support sessions were delivered by Peer Practitioners
• 369 people received one-to-one support for their self-harm
• 1,790 people accessed the SHNS Live Chat
• 833 people engaged in a support conversation

The Live Chat has been available seven days a week (6pm – 10pm) since October 2023, providing immediate support to people who self-harm.

‘B’, who has used the Live Chat service, said:

“I knew I needed help, but I was still scared to ask. Using the online chat and speaking to someone helped me every time that I felt I was about to relapse. I started my support session and was made to feel welcome, supported, and not judged… when I opened up I felt beyond amazing.”

SHNS has also become a national hub for training and support. Over the past 18 months:

• 276 Self-Harm Awareness training sessions were delivered
• 3,380 people have been trained
• Training has been delivered in 25 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities

Tailored resources about self-harm are being developed for professionals supporting people in prisons, deaf adults and children, autistic people and LGBTQ+ communities.

SHNS is working in partnership with the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to develop bespoke Self-Harm Awareness training for prison officers and support staff. This includes SPS-specific resources, case studies, and a recovery video featuring a person with lived experience of self-harm in a prison setting.

Louise McSharry, Practice Development Lead at SHNS, said:

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with Scottish Prison Service to share learning, training, and resources that will empower SPS staff to respond compassionately to self-harm. This collaboration is helping us create approaches which centre the experiences of both staff and people in prison settings, and we are excited to continue piloting the new training and resources across SPS.” 

Welcoming the report, Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, said:

“This strategy, believed to be the first of its kind in the world, has the vision that compassionate support should be available to anyone affected by self-harm. There has been a lot accomplished in the first 18 months; however, we are not complacent, and we recognise that there is still a lot to do together as we continue to work towards achieving our vision.”

Over the next 18 months of the Self-Harm Strategy and Action Plan, SHNS will continue to:

• deliver peer support to people who self-harm
• provide immediate access to support via the Live Chat
• strengthen networks and practice
• improve resources and interventions for those most at risk of self-harm
• enhance self-harm data collection

That’s all with the aim of ensuring people affected by self-harm receive the compassionate support that they deserve.