Self-harm is more prevalent than perhaps we realise, it now occurs in more than one out of every fifteen people and is not restricted to teenagers, it can be young children and adults of any age.

It is important to be able to spot if your child is self-harming, it will not always be easy or simple, as they often find ways ingenius ways to hide what they are doing from you.

You need to know the signs, know what to look for, understand the need to do it, and more importantly what to do if you suspect or find self-harm.

As a trained Ambulanceman I found it very hard at first to hold back and not jump in to attend to the wounds, wanting to stop the self harm before it happened. As parents you will struggle with this too, so a good understanding is important to know how and when to intervene.

There are many good advice books available, self-harm courses are also run by volunteer groups such as the St. John Ambulance, who can also teach you first-aid skills to deal with any injuries, and also how to save a life if the worst ever happens and the self-harmer goes too far.

Below I have assembled links to some useful online advice and booklets and details of contacts who can help both the parent of the self-harmer and the self-harmer themselves. Remember it's always best to talk to a professional, such as a Counsellor or General Practitioner who can put you in contact with someone local who can help.