Dundee Project Hoping To Break Taboos Surrounding Self-harm
A Dundee charity is telling Tay News its new scheme will break the taboo surrounding self-harm.
Between the Lines is an art project tackling stigma and raising awareness.
Chelsea McGuire, who started the project, has teamed up with photographers and other interested individuals as well as Eighteen And Under in order to reach as many people as possible.
Chelsea, herself a self-harm survivor, believes it’s a serious issue affecting thousands of young people and adults.
She said: "We hope that this project can help to give a voice to people who have had problems with self-harm and encourage them to seek support for it.
"One of our main aims is also to help families and loved ones of self-harmers to better understand the issue as it can be very difficult for them to cope with also.
"When people look at photographs they can’t hide from it, they feel an immediate response and that is more powerful than what words can do. Our emotions can really triggered by images. That’s what we hope to achieve here.
"Raising awareness of all forms of self harm is important to us. And so we would like to invite anyone affected by any form of self-harm to get involved with this project."
BetweenTheLines will host an art gallery and training evening in May to raise awareness of self-harm and to highlight survivor’s different journeys to recovery from the issue, as well as to signpost people towards confidential support services.
Keiran Watson, from Eighteen And Under, hopes the venture will let people speak freely about their experiences
Keiran said: "We are always keen to support any new project aimed at helping people.
"Self-harm is often used as a coping mechanism for trauma and in many ways is a natural response to stress, but there are alternatives." Anyone wishing to take part in the project can contact Chelsea or Keiran via 07707531976.