Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2009 | Page 89

FASHION, HEALTH & BEAUTY

life

Helping where it hurts
Katherine Groves heads up the Island’s
action against Self Harm
The onset of the autumn

problem it is, they usually go

and winter months for

from strength to strength.

many people goes hand

We do a lot of confidence

in hand with a plunging

building work. A lot of people

of spirits. World Mental

have had a critical upbringing

Health Day, on October 10,

from parents and their peer

is an acknowledgement

group. Self harmers can be of

that mental illness affects

any age.”

one in four of us at some

A group called IWISH (Isle of

time in our lives, and

Wight Insight into Self Harm)

on this day one group,

has been set up by the team

Sevenacres, is emphasising

to support and empower

the prevalence in society

people who self harm and to

of what is called self harm.

increase awareness about the

“Self harm is classed as a maladaptive coping

problem. IWISH won the Wight Mind award for

strategy,” says Katherine Groves of Sevenacres.

recovery earlier this year and on September 23

“We hope to help people develop better coping

they won the PCT award for collaboration and

strategies. Most people who self harm are

working with others.

doing it because they are emotionally upset. By

Beginning her nursing training in January

wounding themselves they use the minimum

1973, aged 18, Katherine want on to become

amount of harm to affect the maximum

a RMN (Registered Mental Nurse). “I was

emotional release.

privileged to be involved in changing attitudes

“The people I see are wanting to stop self

and the system,” said Katherine. “We were

harming but are very scared and frightened,”

quite forward thinking on the Island and

said Katherine, who emphasises their gentle

began a rehabilitation programme for patients,

approach to the problem. Her team will also go

using houses on site for helping people to live

into the hospital to advise and offer support to

independently.”

overdose cases – perhaps the ultimate act of
self harm.
“For most people, community care is the

Katherine has been in her present post for
six years. “It is exciting being able to benefit
the population of the Island. I absolutely

preferred and most effective treatment option,”

love my job. I wake up every morning feeling

said Katherine. “One of the team will also go

blessed. It’s stressful, but it’s the right sort of

and see overdose cases and assess the patient

stress,” said Katherine. “I feel we do make a

and then offer appropriate crisis resolution.

difference.”

“With self harm the first thing that is
important is that they’ve talked about it,” she

If you or someone you know is self harming
contact the team on 522214.

stressed. “Being aware of what a common
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