Battle Scars run survivor-led support groups in Leeds, to support anyone who self-harms, their families, friends and carers, professionals, or anyone who is trying to understand self-harm.
Battle Scars’ definition of self-harming includes a wide range of physical and psychological ways to harm yourself. This includes eating disorders, overdosing, obsessive negative thinking, physically damaging your body and neglect. Dates and times of their groups vary. They run separate groups for people who self-harm and also for parents and carers. There’s also a drop in session group for 16 to 25 year olds, a peer support group and a Facebook support group for all ages.
You can find out all the times, places or details on their website and sign up to receive notifications about online groups.
Battle Scars also runs FRESH, which gives you the opportunity to talk about what’s going on for you with a peer support worker. People aged 18 and over can refer themselves or be referred for a one-off return phone call (up to 50 minutes long) from a peer who understands self-harm. It offers you a chance to talk openly, gain a FRESH perspective to help you manage your self-harm, whether it’s your first contact with Battle Scars or you’ve used their services before. FRESH is not a helpline and is one-off call with no follow-up. Battle Scars suggest you access their other services for ongoing support.