Trigger warning

This content discusses issues of self-harm, mental health and suicide. Please take the time to consider your own mental health, and seek support if you need it. In the UK, the Samaritans can be reached for free on 116 123.

Welcome to Learn on the go, a Community Care Inform podcast where we discuss what the latest research, practice models and policy guidance mean to your practice.

This episode is about looked-after children and self-harm. It covers what self-harm is, why looked-after children are more at risk of self-harming, and how social workers can support young people and carers. Discussing these questions are Judith Furnivall, lecturer and consultancy lead at the Centre for Excellence for Children’s Care and Protection at the University of Strathclyde, and Dr Eileen Harkness-Murphy, lecturer at the School of Health and Life Sciences in the University of the West of Scotland. The questions were asked by Ruth Hardy, content editor at Community Care Inform.

2:34: What is self-harm and what behaviours can it include?

7:30: Research suggests that about half of looked-after children meet the criteria for a mental health disorder, which is a much higher figure than the general population. Why is this?

12:44: What are the risk factors for self-harm?

22:59: How can social workers support young people waiting for a mental health referral?

27:40: General good practice principles when working with young people who self-harm.

This content covers some difficult and sensitive issues, so please take the time to consider your own mental health, and seek support if you need it. In the UK, the Samaritans can be reached for free on 116 123.

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