About us
Indigo Project is an independent, user led organisation which provides a unique and successful approach to working with young people who self-injure aged 13 - 24.
WHY DO YOUNG PEOPLE SELF INJURE
Young people self injure as a way of dealing with extreme emotional distress. It is a way of surviving. The most common methods are cutting, burning, scalding, inserting objects into their skin, ingesting toxic substances…
There are always underlying reasons to self harm, which may be due to happenings or emotions experienced in the present or the past. The infliction of the self injury will give the young person temporary relief, but may well re-enforce their negative self perceptions; worthless, needing punishment, useless, unable to cope like everyone else etc… This distorted self image can result in withdrawal from family, school, friends, society generally; or it may result in the young person becoming angry and aggressive, which may also lead to problems within the family, exclusion from school, alienating friends and becoming more angry and unhappy. Self injury can remain a secret for years.
HOW WE WORK
Indigo Project uses a social model and harm minimisation approach, we engage with the young people in a completely different way from statutory mental health services. We believe that we best meet our client’s needs by operating with the support of other agencies. We work alongside CAMHS, GP’s, schools, social services etc, with the permission of the young person. We have close working relationships with other national organisations who work with young people who self injure, and value the sharing of research and experience.
Both our own, and published research has proven consistently that there is no single effective intervention when working with young people who self injure, however, support groups have consistently been cited by young people as being especially effective. At Indigo we aim to identify and address the full range of the young person’s needs. We do this by using a unique, flexible and holistic approach in which we look at the whole of the young person’s life, not just their self injuring behaviour. A huge emphasis - and success - of the work is to encourage the service users to help and support each other. We offer a range of individual and group support, including a support and therapy group, counselling and consultation. Specifically for group members we have a helpline, email, text and phone support. In addition to targeted, positive, social and complementary activities (we have our own nutritionist) we liaise with individuals and support agencies that provide workshops; complementary therapists, Connexions, volunteering, housing, benefits, Red Cross etc..
WHY DO YOUNG PEOPLE COME TO US?
We only accept self referrals; the majority of these referrals have come via word of mouth which is the best recommendation. We will accept a referral from a professional or carer ONLY if they are doing so on behalf of the young person. We are able to offer confidentiality (within the limits of our child protection policy). The young person can choose to work 1:1 with a counsellor, or to join one of the groups. Our regular evaluations show the value that the young people place on being able to ‘be themselves’ and to meet with other young people who cope with extreme emotional distress in the same way.
“It’s the only place I have ever found that I feel like people really do understand and know what you’re going through (including workers). It has given me a chance to talk about stuff I don’t speak about in ‘real’ life. I’m not really sure where I’d be without it!” Member of Indigo Project
THE AREA WE COVER
South Gloucestershire, BANES, Bristol, North Somerset.
OUTCOMES
Our monitoring and evaluations have proven the effectiveness of our work. The young people who accessed the project gained support at an earlier stage in their self injury, leading to reduced rates of referral to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, and Adult MH Services. They have been enabled to understanding the issues underlying their self injury and develop alternative ways of coping, gained self confidence, resilience and self esteem.
“Yes. This place is amazing. Before I was fully stuck and confused and pretty much holding onto nothing. I’ve been showed to express my emotions better and I’m starting slowly to increase my confidence with everyone.” Member of Indigo Project
Our young people have re-engaged with school and further education, the majority have ceased completely. Our goal is not that they stop, but that they feel that they are ‘in control’ able to make an informed choice on how to cope effectively with life. They’ve learned to value themselves and plan towards their futures. A number of our ex service users work as volunteers within the project, taking a part in training, mentoring and general support of the project.
We offer a journal; designed and compiled by the group members, which offers support and suggestions for dealing with self injury, FREE to any young person who self harms. Adults/Professionals are asked to pay £8 towards the costs of printing, P&P. Please contact us for details.
TRAINING
Please contact us for details of training for professionals/carers on how to work effectively with young people who self harm.
We also offer self harm and suicide awareness training to young people within a school/youth setting. Please contact us for further details.