Tina Koenig on Self-Harm Network Scotland’s latest Impact Report
Self-Harm Network Scotland’s (SHNS) latest Impact Report has been published, which contains key information about how the self-harm support service has helped people in during April 2024 – March 2025.
Anyone (aged 12 and over) in need of self-harm support in Scotland can refer themselves to the service’s one-to-one support sessions via the Contact Us page on their website. Support is provided remotely by peer practitioners, who all have their own lived experience of self-harm.
During April 24 – March 25, 212 people received one-to-one support, with a total of 1,805 one-to-one support sessions taking place, averaging seven to eight sessions per supported person. Almost two thirds (62%) of referrals that were received were for people aged 30 or under. Feedback from those who exited one-to-one support shows that all respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the service was trustworthy and reliable.
Dee, from Helensburgh, is one of the people who has benefited from Self-Harm Network Scotland’s one-to-one support. Dee’s community psychiatric nurse told her about Self-Harm Network Scotland and suggested that she should get in touch.
Dee said: “I have been battling with poor mental health and self-harm for over 30 years, but I know that I am not alone. I was offered one-to-one support within five days. Me and my peer practitioner Isabella had an instant connection, and I immediately felt at ease.”
“I wasn’t talking to someone who had read textbooks. I was talking to someone with personal, lived experience, and a deeper understanding. It was very different to the type of support that I had experienced in the past. I was encouraged every step of the way and was able to turn ideas into my own thing.”
Watch Dee’s story here:
Live chat
SHNS also helps people in need of more immediate support for their self-harm and distress via an out-of-hours live webchat service, which is available on Self-Harm Network Scotland’s website every evening (6pm – 10pm), seven days a week.
599 support conversations took place on the Live Chat between April 2024 – March 2025.
The most discussed topics on the Live Chat were: self-harm (83% of chats), mental health (52% of chats), emotional distress (38% of chats), suicidal thoughts (26% of chats).
An end of chat survey asks supported people to rate the helpfulness of the chat, with 86% of 198 respondents to the survey rating it as ‘very helpful’ or ‘somewhat helpful.’ Additionally, 55% of respondents reported that they had used the Live Chat before, which suggests that they trust the service and find value in the support they have received.
Self-harm strategy
SHNS is part of Penumbra Mental Health, a pioneering charity providing dedicated services for people with mild to serious and enduring mental ill health. SHNS works together with the Scottish Government and Cosla in delivering their Self-Harm Strategy and Action Plan, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the world. The action plan prioritises addressing discrimination, reducing stigma around self-harm, and improving support.
Self-harm awareness training
SHNS develop and deliver informative and accessible self-harm awareness training and resources to help improve understanding of self-harm, raise awareness and reduce stigma.
During 2024/2025, 180 self-harm awareness training sessions were delivered to 2,137 people. This included specific sessions for 67 organisations ranging from local authorities, health boards, education establishments and a range of third sector organisations.
Self-harm awareness training continues to see strong and increasing demand from organisations, delivering to almost 500 more professionals than in the previous year. Participants’ experience of the training remains overwhelmingly positive, with evidence suggesting that the training is helping to increase knowledge and understanding of self-harm.
Our Impact Report shows that 98% of people who gave feedback after taking part in self-harm awareness training agreed or strongly agreed that they had a better understanding of where help and support exists for people who self-harm.
Darren Boyd, SHNS programme manager, said: “Self-Harm Network Scotland’s latest Impact Report reflects a year of significant change, development, and learning across the service, as we’ve continued to centre lived experience in all that we do. The past year has been about creating safer spaces, holding complexity without judgment, and responding to people’s pain with care and consistency.”
He continued: “We know that compassionate, person-centred support doesn’t just make a difference — it saves lives. At the core of everything we do is the belief that recovery is possible — and that it should be defined by the individual. It is voices like Dee’s that remind us why we do what we do – and who we do it for.”
Read the Impact Report here: https://selfharmnetworkscotland.org.uk/our-impact/
If you, or anyone you know, are looking for support with your self-harm, please visit our website. It has free resources, tools, and information for people who self-harm, for loved ones of people who self-harm, and for professionals who work with people who self-harm: https://selfharmnetworkscotland.org.uk/
Tina Koenig is communications lead for Self-Harm Network Scotland.
Self-Harm Network Scotland is part of Penumbra Mental Health, a pioneering charity supporting people on their journey to better mental health. The power of people’s lived experience enables us to provide pioneering services that transform lives.
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