Self-harm: first UK enquiry into pain of 1 in 10 teenagers - CFN Newsletter Week 121

CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK NEWSLETTER 121

> Christian pioneers' warning over first 'self-harm' inquiry
> News:
> As Disability Act nears - are churches ready?
> EastEnders' Janine advocates action, not pity
> 'Don't overlook churches' role in drug prevention'
> Sites:
> Top 100 April Fools hoaxes
> Family Friendly Churches - new site
> Self-harm - new UK inquiry and Church Army Project
> Marriage MOT: A glimpse of joy
> You've got to laugh: Be careful what you pray for!
> Members' Zone latest

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EDITOR'S LETTER

Hi there all

Whether you've got teenagers or not, you'll know some of the angst they go through over everything from looks to relationships (with friends, the opposite sex and you!), clothes to music, identity to school/college and career.

The growing problem of self-harm is the subject of our lead article this update, with some web links that may prove helpful.

We've also got columnists Elisabeth Corcoran and Eric Spellman, news, resources, websites to visit and plenty of lighter material to brighten your day.

Enjoy the Spring sunshine - when you see it!

God bless

Russ Bravo
Christian Family Network
info@cfnetwork.co.uk
http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk

PS Christian Family Network is here to direct you to the best in parenting, marriage and family resources; to link you up with other Christian families up and down the UK; and to help you make the most of life as a follower of Christ - at home, at work, at school and college, at play and online.

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RESOURCES

Helping youngsters who self-harm

The first ever UK inquiry into young people who self-harm will prove totally inadequate without proper support strategies at grassroots level. That’s the warning from a pioneering Church Army project in South Wales.

The Cardiff-based Amber Project, funded by the Church Army and the National Assembly for Wales, works with young people aged 16 to 25 who have experience of self-harm. It provides a counselling and drop-in service.

Rates of self-harm in the UK have increased over the past decade, making them the highest in Europe. At present one in 10 UK teens deliberately self-harm, and their injuries see more than 24,000 teenagers admitted to hospital each year.

The problem is so grave that the Mental Health Foundation has launched an inquiry in association with the Camelot Foundation. The most common method of self-harm involves repeatedly cutting the skin, but others include scalding, hitting or scratching, hair-pulling or swallowing small amounts of toxic substances.

In response to some of the questions raised by the young people who access the Amber Project, a booklet has recently been published. Louderthanwords has been produced for those who have experience of self-harm.

Church Army’s Caryl Stock, co-ordinator of the Amber Project, said: “We are encouraged that the Mental Health Foundation investigation plans to draw on the experiences of the young people themselves, and we will be extremely interested in its findings.

“However, accurate research and statistics in isolation are not enough. The Church Army’s experience at the Amber Project suggests that young people are looking for practical support and strategies, which projects such as ours – working at ‘grassroots’ level – are able to offer.

“We are hopeful that we will be able to secure the funding to enable us to expand the service that we currently offer young people. At present we are running a pilot project working with young people aged 14-15, and we would like to establish a ‘sister project’ which would work with 11 to 15-year-olds.”

She added: “Undoubtedly, it is possible to work in positive and creative ways with young people who self-harm. For example, we run a series of theatre workshops in (partnership with Theatr Fforwm Cymru), which uses drama as a medium through which young people can creatively and dramatically explore the issues which affect their lives.

“These workshops have proved to be very effective in helping young people to increase their feelings of confidence and self-worth, and to discover (sometimes for the first time) that they do, in fact, have a voice and that people are prepared to listen to them.”

• For more details on the Amber Project, visit www.tybronna.org.uk and follow the links. Further information on the Church Army can be found at www.churcharmy.org.uk, and a new website dedicated to the inquiry can be found at www.selfharmUK.org

THIS WEEK'S NEWS

> As Disability Act nears - are churches ready?

The Disability Discrimination Act, which will outlaw discrimination against those who are disabled, comes fully into force in October – but are the churches ready for it?

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

> EastEnders' Janine advocates action, not pity

EastEnders actress Charlie Brooks, who plays Janine in the popular BBC1 soap, lent her support to World Vision's 24-hour Famine recently, joining with thousands of tenagers around the UK in giving up food for a day to raise money for clean water projects.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/resources.asp for the full story

> 'Don't overlook churches' role in drug prevention'

HOPE UK has praised a new government initiative to pool millions of pounds into one common pot for tackling drug abuse among young people, but said that the important role of churches and voluntary organisations in preventing drug use has been overlooked.

Go to http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/news.asp for the full story

MARRIAGE MOT

> Check out our archived marriage tips in the Members' Zone, plus stacks more marriage resources at http://www.2-in-2-1.co.uk

A glimpse of joy

Do you remember your courting days, when you were so in love, you just wanted to spend every available moment together? Nothing was too much to do for each other. You felt so happy to be together. Your heart beat faster when you were together. The future stretched out ahead, full of possibilities.

Perhaps that's still where you are, but many of us find the initial excitement wanes. Little things begin to irritate and annoy, and we drift apart.

Is that the end of the matter? The romance has gone, perhaps recaptured briefly by a weekend away or a surprise gift, or even a piece of music bringing back glad memories.

No, surely that's not the end of it, or how do so many marriages last happily for decades? Isn't it when you discover that love is an action word before it's a feeling. Every little act of kindness, thoughtfulness, care is an act of love that builds something more lasting. It builds joy.

Sometimes when I look at my husband and I think of all the things he does for me, of how he forgives me and encourages me; of how tender he can be, considerate, devoted, then I smile and my heart seems to swell. It feels warm and full of a desire to hug him. That's a little glimpse of the joy I find when I stop and remember just how special he is.

Think of the good things in your marriage and take a sip of the joy that can be yours.

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EVENTS

YOU'VE GOT TO LAUGH ...

It’s a matter of perspective!

A man and his wife both reached the age of 50. The man prayed: "Lord, could you make my wife 30 years younger than me, please?"

The Lord replied: "Are you sure you want me to do that?"

"Yes, yes," said the man, "I'd really love it."

"Okay," said God, and the man suddenly found himself 80 years old.

Be careful what you pray for!

Faith and Fun, New Life Publishing

CHRISTIAN FAMILY NETWORK THIS WEEK
(MEMBERS' ZONE) - http://www.cfnetwork.co.uk/members/default.asp

> Advice

> Eric Spellmann on PC Power Toys - hidden gems for Windows users
> Kate's Marriage advice - A glimpse of joy

> Resources

> W Bruce Cameron has a tweenager ...
> Separated by a common language - the craziness of English in the US and the UK
> Jokes you can pass on
> Connect2 - Care for the Family's new marriage preparation resource
> Family Friendly Church - a new ministry and book

> News

> As Disability Act nears - are churches ready?
> EastEnders' Janine advocates action, not pity
> 'Don't overlook churches' role in drug prevention'

> Top sites this week

> Top 100 April Fools hoaxes
> Family Friendly Churches - new site
> Self-harm - new UK inquiry and Church Army Project

> Events: More of what's on near you

> Webwatch Index: more than 600 sites at your fingertips

> Site Search Engine: the easy way to trawl our 1,000-page plus archives

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