To celebrate World Mental Health Day on 10 October 2021, which also marks one year since the launch of the CHERISH (Caring for Self-Harm: Resources & Information for Supporting Students in Higher Education) support platform, researchers from the University of Westminster look back on the work they have done to provide resources to those supporting university students who self-harm.
Throughout the year, the CHERISH team released a series of blog posts written by researchers and practitioners about mental health and wellbeing, including personal experiences of supporting someone who self-harms and different ways of looking after yourself and your wellbeing and others. On World Mental Health Day, which took place on 10 October 2021, the team released a short video about understanding student self-harm and caring for students who self-harm.
The researchers have also produced a number of helpful resources and events for supporters of those who self-harm. Dr Jay-Marie Mackenzie, Senior Lecturer in Psychology and one of the researchers on the CHERISH team, released a video on World Suicide Prevention Day in September 2021 to discuss the difference between self-harm and suicide, a topic that participants in the research told the team they wanted to hear more about.
During Carers Week in June 2021, the team hosted a carers event which was aimed at raising awareness of supporting individuals who may be experiencing difficulties with their mental health and wellbeing. The workshop offered a variety of talks and panel discussions from academics, people with lived experience and professionals working in different sectors to support mental health. The talks during the workshop focused on the diversity of what a supportive role may look like, ranging from informal to professional experiences, ways to look after yourself as a supporter and discussions about the role organisations such as universities, charities and healthcare services can play in supporting supporters.
The CHERISH support website was launched in October 2020 in response to research by the University of Westminster which identified a stark absence of guidance and resources available for individuals who provide support to university students experiencing poor mental health and/or self-harm. To combat this, CHERISH was developed alongside participants with lived experience, including professionals and family and friends and those with personal experiences of self-harm. The programme of research which led to CHERISH was funded by the British Academy (led by Dr Jay-Marie Mackenzie) and Sir Halley Steward Trust (led by Dr Nina Smyth) along with co-applicant Dr Tina Cartwright and Research Associate Laura Culshaw.
Providing tips from the research team and participants, CHERISH aims to bring together information and resources on self-harm and mental health on one platform, something which participants felt was particularly lacking for them in a support/carer role. It also offers a space to safely explore the emotions and experiences of other supporters/carers and illustrate the importance of self-care. CHERISH also provides a platform for sharing the voices of those with lived experience of self-harm through quotes and blogs.
Talking about the development and first year of CHERISH, Laura Culshaw said: “Students told us that they found accessing support difficult and often relied on the support of people close to them. Friends, family members, as well as professionals providing this support, told us that they wanted more guidance on how best to support their loved one. With the help of funding from the Sir Halley Stewart Trust, we were able to translate our research findings into CHERISH.
“CHERISH shares the experiences and stories of people providing support, as well as several resources for people in supporting/carer roles. Since the launch of the website, we have worked with researchers and practitioners to release blog posts, videos, and talks on different topics of mental health and ways to support someone who may be experiencing difficulties with their mental health to support those that find themselves in a support/care role, so they know they are not along in their support journey.”
A supporter who has used the CHERISH support platform, added: “It [The website] helped me feel like you are not alone supporting those who self-harm.”
Find out more information on the CHERISH website or email [email protected].
