LifeSIGNS

Self-Harm? Is that like Self-Injury? People use different terms for self-injury; SI, SH, DSH (Deliberate Self Harm), SIB (Self Injurious Behaviour), Self Mutilation, Cutting; some people even include self-injury when they say ‘parasuicide’. Hospitals and Doctors might use different words, but whatever words we use, are we talking about the same thing? LifeSIGNS feels that [...]

I travelled up to North London early this morning for an ICT in Mental Health Event organised by the ICT Hub. During registration I got chatting to a lady from MIND and she asked me about LifeSIGNS. I was only too happy to answer her questions, and soon found others were listening and asking for [...]

Self-Injury Awareness day is only two weeks away, so if you want to get involved then why not have a look at the SIAD page on the LifeSIGNS website. We have everything you need to make this SIAD a success, including template letters for you to send to newspapers, radio shows and MP’s. Or why [...]

We are ever so proud of this edition of LifeSHINES, it’s got so much in it! Jules has written an important article about bullying; a gentleman has written an insightful and moving story of how he discovered his wife’s SI; Cait has written about telling her Mum about her SI; and we feature poems from [...]

When Wedge first suggested I might like to write a personal account of self-injury, I had mixed feelings. I’m a writer and I love writing, but to write about myself, and especially something so personal, I wasn’t too sure. I added the task to my to-do list and left it for a couple of days. [...]

While Wedge was working hard upgrading our Message Board yesterday, I spent the day packaging all the wristbands and keyrings that had been pre-ordered. As you can see, it was quite a task, and kept me occupied for most of the day. With packages being sent all round the world, I had a little production [...]

Earlier this month Wedge asked me to re-write our Mission Statement. The old one was tired and dull and it certainly needed revamping. Wedge asked for something ‘inspirational and aspirational’ to carry LifeSIGNS swiftly into the future, so I set to work. My first task was to engage the members of our Strategic Guidance Group, [...]

LifeSIGNS is pleased to announce that we are now taking pre-orders for our new Self-Injury Awareness wristbands. What’s more, we are also offering fantastic keyrings to match! They are both orange, the colour of self-injury awareness, and debossed with the words “SI Awareness www.lifesigns.org.uk”. They are made from silicone and the wristbands measure 20.2cm in [...]

We now have a Bebo profile page, as well as our Facebook ones. Here’s the official ‘invitation’ to be LifeSIGNS’ friend, www.bebo.com/a/invite/5406448419a516200807b65 and you can see our profile at: www.bebo.com/lifesigns I’ll do my best with the profile in the next seven days! Wedge

From April 2008, the Government plans to replace Patient Forums with Local Involvement Networks (LINks). Patient Forums help groups of patients be involved with healthcare and influence the NHS. LINks are being introduced to help strengthen the system that enables communities to influence the care they receive. Backed up by certain powers, LINks will: provide [...]

Write a letter for yourself ‘Coming out’ about self-injury to the people closest to us is a difficult decision to make. How the other person reacts is bound to have a serious affect on us, be it positive or negative, and so it’s important to think about that first conversation (if possible) before you have [...]

With Christmas fast approaching, our ‘How to Survive’ edition of the LifeSIGNS Newsletter is now available! Please download it from http://www.lifesigns.org.uk/newsletter/ OR download it now by clicking http://www.lifesigns.org.uk/files/28-lifeshines.pdf You’ll notice some important organisational changes, and our new logos. Please note that it’s best if you subscribe to our Newsletter at http://www.lifesigns.org.uk/newsletter/ , thank you. We [...]

LifeSIGNS will be back online tonight, with a fresh new logo to match our refreshed organisation structure. As a Voluntary Organisation, we are user-lead, and we’ll be wanting to recruit new people to join us on the Management Committee, so we hope to let you know more in the New Year. The Newsletter has been [...]

Trigger warning, graphic language, some imagery and emotional themes. The Born Survivors Season kicks off on December 11th at 10.30pm with Kizzy: Mum at 14. Looking After Mum is on at 9pm on December 12th. The 60 minute version of the above film – Cut Up Kids – will be on BBC3 on December 18th [...]

Trigger warning, graphic language, some imagery and emotional themes. The Born Survivors Season kicks off on December 11th at 10.30pm with Kizzy: Mum at 14. Looking After Mum is on at 9pm on December 12th. The 60 minute version of the above film – Cut Up Kids – will be on BBC3 on December 18th [...]