Self-Harm Network Scotland’s Practice Development team will travel to Orkney this week to deliver Self-Harm Awareness training on the island. Louise and Frankee from Penumbra’s national self-harm support service will provide four days of training to 64 professionals in the community that support people who self-harm. 

Orkney Blide Trust have organised the training, in partnership with Community Learning & Development Orkney and Orkney Local Employability Partnership. Self-Harm Awareness training will be delivered to 16 organisations, including NHS Orkney, All Age Learning Disabilities, Stromness Academy and Pride in Orkney. 

Self-Harm Network Scotland will also lead a Parent’s Self-Harm Awareness and Q&A session on Wednesday 26th February, from 7pm – 9pm at the Employability Hub. The session will cover what self-harm is and what various shapes it can take, why people self-harm, how to start a conversation about self-harm with a loved one and what support and resources are available. Numbers are limited but you can book your space by emailing: employability.support@orkney.gov.uk

This upcoming visit comes following a successful trip to deliver training on Orkney last year.

Craig Nisbet, Service Development Manager, at Orkney Blide Trust, said: 

“After doing the Self-Harm Awareness training last year I felt much more confident starting conversations about self-harm, and the various shapes it can take for individuals. This allowed me to feel much more able to support individuals in managing their self-harm. I thought the training was fantastic and was excited to try and organise the Self-Harm Network team visiting us in Orkney again.”

He added: “I am hoping this training will allow more professionals working with vulnerable people across various sectors to build this confidence. In turn we can create a local network of support for those in the community who self-harm. They have also been kind enough to agree to an awareness and Q&A session for parents while they are up, empowering more people to start these conversations with loved ones.”

Louise McSharry, Practice Development Lead at Self-Harm Network Scotland, said: 

“We’re absolutely delighted to have been invited back to Orkney to deliver training and awareness sessions for professionals and community members. It’s wonderful to hear the impact from our visit in 2024, and we are glad to be able to return and continue to support the community in Orkney.”

She added: “It’s important for people to know that Self-Harm Network Scotland provide support, training and resources to people who self-harm, loved ones of people who self-harm and professionals supporting people who self-harm all over Scotland, including the Highlands and Islands. This trip will help us to continue to offer support to rural and island communities and will hopefully lead to more opportunities to work within these communities in the future.”

Find out more about Self-Harm Network Scotland’s Self-Harm Awareness training on their website by clicking here.