ammado - Public Profile for FirstSigns

Organisation Overview

FirstSigns is an online, user-led voluntary organisation, that raises awareness about self-harm and self-injury and provides information and support to people of all ages affected by self-harm and self-injury. We recognise self-injury is a way of coping with distressing experiences and difficult emotions, and we encourage people to reflect on the issues behind their self-injury, and to develop and explore alternative coping mechanisms. FirstSigns is managed and led by people with personal experience of self-injury, and we are non-judgemental, non-directional, and respectful of our members' and visitors' life experiences and perceptions. The FirstSigns website is the centre of our vibrant community, and provides access to all of our services, including our newsletter, book and training - www.firstsigns.org.uk

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News And Articles

01 Aug 2008 12:30 GMT
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Summer meet-up, London (UK), Saturday 16th August
There's only two weeks until our summer meet-up in London (UK)! Thank you to those of you who have already confirmed you are attending - I have today emailed you with full details of the location. If you've contacted me and haven't received an email then please let me know. Just to confirm, we are meeting in Camden, North London on Saturday 16th August from 1pm 'til 3pm. So if you fancy coming along for a drink and chat then please do email Jules@firstsigns.org.uk for full details. A ...
31 Jul 2008 19:25 GMT
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Thank you
I want to thank you for reading our blog and visiting our self-harm awareness website. It means a lot to me, to have engaged and interested visitors. It means a lot to Jules and me when we hear back from members or visitors who tell us that our stories, articles and information has affected them, that they recognise themselves in our words, and we've made them think. I hope FirstSigns provides fantastic inspiration and information. Obviously, we don't give advice or tell people what to do ...
17 Jul 2008 18:13 GMT
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London meet-up: Saturday 16th August
After the success of our Birmingham meet-up last Saturday, we are now pleased to confirm that a further meet-up will take place in London on Saturday 16th August. The event will take place at a pub in Camden, North London (nearest tube Camden Town) from 1pm until 3pm. Of course, both Wedge and I will be there and we would welcome the opportunity to meet and have a drink with as many of you as possible. You are also welcome to bring a friend. It would be good to get some idea of numbers so i ...
24 Jun 2008 16:04 GMT
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Unsent letters
'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 it. Or maybe you aren’t ready to talk yet, but need to get your feelings out somehow. One way of achieving both these things is by writing a letter to the person you want to tell. You never have to send th ...
24 Jun 2008 16:01 GMT
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Coming out with SI
Often, people who self-injure tell no one of the mental anguish that they live with, or the physical damage they do to themselves. It is so very hard for people to talk about self injury, words seem so ineffectual, it’s very hard to convey the feelings that bring a person to SI. There is definitely a taboo surrounding any form of mental illness, mental disorder, or personality disorder. People don’t like to talk about mental issues, and often skirt around the su ...