Posted By Paul Leadbetter Clare Casualty disposal sounds a bit drastic; perhaps you could explain! Paul

Posted By jackw. Hi, Confidentiality/recording: you could use the new accident recording book to record each incident. This has a tear off strip for each accident; these can then be locked away separately. You don't say but I am assuming from your indication of 14 - adults that you are in some form of specialist school. Thus I would assume that the staff acting as first aider will have knowledge of the type of pupil you service and would also have some specialist training. I would also assume you would have access to educational psychologists and other professional help. I would suggest they could give some additional training. Are any of your pupils in contact with a local CPN they may also be able to offer advice/support to staff. I would disagree with getting them more involved than acting as first aiders and I feel that access to the above would be much more appropriate than contacting the Samaritans. Hope the above helps in what is obviously a difficult situation. Cheers

Posted By jackw. Hi Bill, I take your point. I still feel the samaratins are not the appropriate people to deal with this. Whilst they offer sympathy and in some cases understanding the person needs a much more structured and professional help. Whilst the reasons for individual self harm are complex and specific to that individual it is almost without exception a cry for help and thus the indivudual usually bring attention to it as witnessed in this case: the school are aware of the self harm. Cheers

Posted By Helen Horton You might find your local MIND office helpful too. My neighbour is a case worker for them and says that self harm is becoming an increasing problem, especially in teenage girls. It gives them some sort of control over their lives in situations where they don't feel in control and provides a kind of coping mechanism for stress. It does need more than a sticking plaster though and can often get out of hand if the right kind of help isn't forthcoming initially or if people are judgemental.

Posted By Jerry Lucey The Educational Medical Advisory Service (EMAS) might be able to help or at least point you in the right direction. I have consulted them in the past and found them to be very helpful.