About Us
Self-Harm Network Scotland provides free compassionate support, resources, and information to people who self-harm. We also provide support and information to friends, families and professionals.
We are part of Penumbra Mental Health, a pioneering charity providing dedicated services for people with mental ill health. We support people on their journey to better mental health, by working with each person to find their own way forward. We are funded by the Scottish Government and also work with partner agencies who share our goal of minimising distress and reducing self-harm.
Our Teams
Our national team work remotely to support 
people across Scotland through our website. This includes our live webchat and ongoing support offered through video, phone calls and text. If you are 12+ and based in Scotland, you can access support via the live webchat service between 6pm-10pm every night. You can also refer yourself for 12-15 sessions of ongoing support around your self-harm via the Contact us page, or by talking to one of our colleagues on the webchat.
Website Peer Practitioners
- We are all Peer Practitioners with our own lived experience of self-harm, so you will be supported by someone who has been there too. We offer remote one-to-one support through video call, phone, text or email. You’ll be met with empathy and compassion where you and your goals are at the centre of support!
Website Volunteers
- We are the team behind the live webchat. We bring with us our own lived experience and passion to support others. We love being able to support this part of Self-Harm Network Scotland!
Our small but mighty Self-H
arm Network training team are extremely passionate about raising awareness and reducing stigma around self-harm and believe that self-harm awareness is relevant to everyone. To date, the team has trained thousands of people in Scotland and aim to continue providing this training to everyone who is interested.
We have many different training options which can be tailored to suit you and your workplace. For more information and to get in touch with the team, please visit our Training page.
Our Impact
We believe that mental health recovery can and should be available to everyone. Our team works hard to provide the best support possible for people who self-harm, for people who have thoughts of self-harm, and for anyone who supports people who self-harm, whether that’s personally or professionally.
Find out about Self-Harm Network Scotland’s impact in our 2023/24 Impact Report.
The Power of Lived Experience
Peer support is when people with similar lived experiences connect with and support each other.
Our Peer Practitioners all have their own, unique, lived experiences of self-harm and have been on their own recovery journey which they can draw on to support people in our services. People’s experiences are at the centre of everything that we do.
Read more about what peer support means to us in our report – The Power of Lived Experience and Peer Support.
The Penumbra approach
Your journey. Your way.
Of course, everyone’s journey is different, so we work with people to identify, believe in, and reach their goals, whatever they may be.
Often, it’s about hope, but we know that’s not always easy for people to hold on to. And so, when times are tough, we hold it for each person, keeping it safe – just until the time is right.
You see, Penumbra has always been about people; listening and learning, challenging, encouraging and enabling . It’s why we’re trusted to provide services across Scotland, supporting thousands of adults and young people every month, because when people need us, we’re there.
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