Pathologising the Human Experience
By Caroline Harroe (Harmless CEO) In recent years, the use of mental health diagnoses has become increasingly prevalent in our everyday language. It is not uncommon to hear someone say they are ‘depressed’ or ‘anxious’ when feeling down or worried. Similarly, people may describe themselves as ‘a bit OCD’ if they like things to be […]
Language Matters: Stop Calling People Self Harmers
Language matters when discussing topics related to mental health and self-harm. It is importantto use person-centred language that gives emphasis to the individual as a whole, rather thanreducing them to a single behaviour or label. Using the term ‘self-harmer’ to describe an individual who engages in self harm can bestigmatising and reinforcing of negative stereotypes. […]
The Effects of Viewing Self Harm Images Online
By Caroline Harroe (Harmless CEO) Recent research conducted by the University of Oxford has revealed that viewing images of self harm on the internet and social media can be detrimental to an individual’s mental health. The study, published in the journal Clinical Psychological Science, surveyed 1,700 participants and found that those who had viewed such […]
Autism & Suicide
By Caroline Harroe (Harmless CEO) Autism Acceptance Week was an important time to focus on the struggles that people with autism face and to make sure that their voices are heard. However, it is also especially important to address a difficult topic: self-harm and suicide in individuals with autism. Recent studies suggest that people on […]
Autism Acceptance Week
Autism Acceptance Week is a time for us to come together and celebrate the unique beauty of autistic people. It’s also an opportunity to push the boundaries of how we accept and support those with autism. When it comes to accepting those on the spectrum, there can be a tendency to focus solely on their […]
Stress Awareness Month
April is stress awareness month. Stress is an emotional state that as humans, we all experience in our day-to-day. It is our body’s way of responding to demands or perceived threats. To enable us to navigate stressful situations, our body will activate a “fight-or-flight” survival response – a process whereby our bodies will release hormones […]
Thank you, Comic Relief!
Dear Comic Relief, Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day 2023 has been a beacon of hope for organisations such as Harmless and The Tomorrow Project over the last 25 years and have been contributing to our work directly for the last decade. During times of economic upheaval, suicide and self-harm rates can increase significantly, making it […]
Human Stories Art Project – get involved & tell your story
Caroline Harroe is a digital artist and clinician who is renowned for her work in mental health. She has a unique perspective on the world, which is evident in her eclectic style of art. Caroline’s focus is on women, humility, human experience, and story telling. Her work tells the stories of real people, and she […]
Equality in Mental Health Care
By Caroline Harroe, Harmless CEO International Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of women throughout history and across the world, but it also serves as a reminder that there is still progress to be made. Stigmatising women has been an issue for centuries, with mental health being particularly targeted. This can take many forms, including labels […]
International Women’s Day
By Harmless CEO, Caroline Harroe At Harmless, we try to take every day as an opportunity to embrace equity and celebrate International Women’s Day. This year’s theme of “Embrace Equity” celebrates the immense contribution that women have made in paving the way for greater gender equality in many areas of society, including leadership roles. We […]