Raising the Standard in Self Harm and Suicide Prevention Training: Project Re-Vamp Launch
By Helen Birch (Training & Education Officer) At The Academy at Harmless, part of the Centre of Excellence for Self Harm and Suicide Prevention, we believe training should never stand still. The evidence base evolves. Best practice develops. The needs of communities and frontline professionals change. To ensure our training continues to reflect the very […]
Finding Connection: A Journey Through Isolation
By Vicky Lott (Training and Education Officer) I’m currently living in my 60th year. Having lived solo for a decade, I possess many of the risk factors for loneliness: my age, being single, working from home and living rurally. Yet, there is a quiet irony in the fact that I feel less lonely now than during […]
The Invisible Burden: Living with Suicidality Behind a Well Face
By an Anonymous member of the Harmless team For decades, academia and frontline services have poured immense resource into a single, haunting question: How do we predict and understand suicide? At Harmless, this question sits at the very core of our existence. We frequently look to established psychological frameworks, such as Rory O’Connor’s Integrated Motivational-Volitional […]
Suicide Bereavement Conference 2026: Latest Speaker Updates
Join Harmless – the centre of excellence for self harm and suicide prevention – this September for our Suicide Bereavement Conference 2026. This powerful online event is designed for professionals seeking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by suicide. Timed to align with World Suicide Prevention Day, this year’s theme […]
Support, Safety and Mental Health: Navigating the EHRC Changes
By Caroline Harroe (Harmless CEO) The release of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) updated Code of Practice can feel like a heavy weight to carry. For many in the trans, non-binary and gender-expansive community, reading headlines about the exclusion of trans people from single-sex spaces doesn’t just feel like a legal update – […]
Behind the Scenes: Partnering with Nottingham College for Youth Mental Health
Something incredibly exciting is brewing behind the scenes. We are officially teaming up with Nottingham College to co-create a brand-new series of films dedicated to youth mental health. This isn’t just about making videos; it’s a powerhouse collaboration bringing together local services, creative minds and, most importantly, young people themselves. Our goal? To develop engaging, […]
Harmless Policy Response: Department for Education’s Campaign Featuring Gemma Collins
Official condemnation of the Department for Education’s tone-deaf promotional material. Clarification Note (20 May 2026): Following communication from the Department for Education, Harmless notes that the promotional video discussed below featuring Gemma Collins was formally produced to launch ‘V-levels’ (a new vocational qualification) rather than as a direct component of the strategic SEND reforms. However, […]
Remembering Reverend Deacon Martyn Swaby
By Sarah Kessling (Director) I first met Martyn while working as a Training Lead for Let’s Talk Training, the educational arm of Harmless. As a fellow Catholic, Martyn reminded me very much of the priest I grew up with; tall and slender, with a warm, steady smile. He had a way of making you feel […]
The Value of HR: Building a Stronger, Healthier Workplace at Harmless
By Darren Fox (Chief HR Officer) Today (20th May) is International HR Day: An opportunity for HR and people professionals to celebrate their profession and its positive impact on people and organisations. Human Resources and people professionals can often have a bad reputation. Some see us as the ‘company police’ whose sole responsibility is to enforce rules […]
Dementia Action Week: A Journey Through Dementia with My Nan
By Leanne Moulton (Chief Academy Officer) There are moments when someone you love starts to slip away. Not all at once, but in fragments. Whether that’s a forgotten birthday, a misplaced name or a confused look that lingers too long. For many families like mine, these early signs of dementia are both subtle and deeply […]