The SORTs project (which stands for SuppOrtive Response to Self-Harm) has created a new toolkit which aims to equip schools with the necessary tools and strategies to effectively respond to students who self-harm.

Previous research has found that many members of school staff felt that there is a lack of training for staff on self-harm, which has led to a lack of knowledge and confidence in how to respond to cases of students self-harming. As a response to this, the SORTs toolkit has been co-developed with the Charlie Waller Trust, mental health professionals, school staff, and young people as part of a research project funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).

Amidst the rising cases of children’s mental health in the UK, it may come as no surprise that there has also been a rise in the number of children and young people who self-harm. According to Young Minds, in 2018-19 24% of 17-year-olds reported having self-harmed in the previous year, and nearly half of 17- to 19-year-olds with a diagnosable mental health disorder had self-harmed. The trend of rising statistics continues in younger ages too, with up to 34% of 15-year-olds reporting self-harm in their lifetime.

School staff are often the first professionals to notice signs of self-harm in a young person, which can include unexplained cuts, scratches, burns or bruises, wearing long sleeves even in warm weather, and avoiding changing clothes, swimming or exercising around others. However, many staff members surveyed in research by the university said they felt unprepared for instances of a student self-harming.

The SORTs toolkit focuses on a whole-school approach to self-harm prevention and intervention and can be used by every member of school staff – from senior leadership staff to catering and administrative staff. Prioritising a whole-school approach to self-harm encourages an environment in which students feel safe to talk to a member of staff about their mental health. 

The SORTs toolkit is free to access via the SORTS website which lists the downloadable information sheets and posters for young people, parents and carers and school staff. There is also a free 30-minute e-learning module aimed at anyone working within the school setting who wants to know what self-harm is, why it happens and how to have a conversation with a student with self-harm. The training module contains example conversation videos and offers a CPD certificate to all that complete the training.

To give you more insight into the resources, you can check out one of the SORTs resources, Identify, Understand and Respond, on our downloadable resource page.

For further information, contact the SORTS team at SORTS@psychiatry.cam.ac.uk.