From Support to Strength: Compassion, Community and Hope in Practice
By Megan Dooley (Training & Education Officer) ‘This Mental Health Awareness Week we’re asking people to join us in taking action to support good mental health. Even small actions can help us feel hopeful and less powerless. And while our individual actions matter, when we come together, we are even more powerful’ – Mental Health […]
Maternal Mental Health Week: The Truth No One Talks About
By Michelle Cooney (Training Sales & Advertising Officer) Motherhood is often painted as one of the happiest times in your life – glowing skin, overwhelming love, perfect moments. But for many women, the reality can feel very different. Behind the smiles and baby photos, there can be exhaustion, anxiety, guilt and a quiet sense of […]
Why We Run: Celebrating the Spirit of Giving
By Jess Paine (Fundraising & Events Officer) The London Marathon is the world’s largest single-day fundraising event, raising nearly £90 million for charities and boasting a record-breaking 1,133,813 ballot applications this year. With an incredible 59,000 runners at last weekend’s event – and multiple world records broken – it was inspiring to see so many […]
Protecting Those Who Care: Prioritising Staff Wellbeing in High-Impact Work
By Jack Fox (Office & Facilities Manager) At Harmless, we spend our days talking about safety, but usually it’s in the context of our life-saving interventions for those at risk of self harm or suicide. But ahead of World Health & Safety at Work Day next week, we are turning the lens inward. In the […]
Finding Joy in the Work: A Reflection on Happiness and Healing
By Danny Charters (Therapist) As a therapist at Harmless, I inevitably spend a great deal of time thinking about suffering. People generally refer into our service due to forces in their lives (either internal, external or both) that are causing them distress. In therapy sessions, I work together with my clients to find ways of […]
Participants Required for Research Study
Harmless is supporting a research study exploring how parents experience the loss of a child to suicide and whether there are differences between mothers and fathers. Hello, my name is Olivia Back. I am recruiting participants for my thesis project which is investigating parental experiences of losing a child to suicide. **CONTENT WARNING**This study references […]
Every Seat Matters: The Ripple Effect of Cancellations in Suicide Prevention Training
By Helen Birch (Training & Education Officer) At Harmless, the centre of excellence for self harm and suicide prevention, we believe in the power of connection. Our training sessions are carefully designed to be interactive, engaging and impactful. To maintain this high standard, spaces are intentionally limited. However, there is an ‘uncomfortable truth’ we must […]
Different, Not Less: World Autism Acceptance Week
By Eleanor Haggar (Clinical Support Worker) This week marks World Autism Acceptance Week – an opportunity to improve public understanding, celebrate neurodiversity, and promote practical inclusion through school resources, fundraising and local events. By building understanding we can create communities where autistic people feel welcomed and supported. Understanding Autism Acceptance vs. AwarenessWhile awareness simply means […]
Trans Day of Visibility: The Single Greatest Thing I Have Done to Improve My Mental Health is To Be Me
Trans Day of Visibility is marked annually on 31st March. It is a day to celebrate the lives, achievements and resilience of transgender and non-binary people, whilst highlighting the discrimination and inequality they face. This year, we are delighted that Nottingham Pastel Project have contributed a guest blog post. Written by Jess, their Co-Director, she […]
You Might Be Wrong About Bipolar
By Anna Scott (Clinical Support Worker) It takes an average of 9.5 years to get a correct diagnosis of bipolar disorder in the UK. The overwhelming misunderstanding of what the condition involves can be a major hindrance for diagnosis. Despite being present in roughly 1 in 100 of us, many of us have a warped […]