im a bit 50/50. In the sense of protecting the self harmer from infections etc then yeah its a great idea but dishing them out to people isnt a good idea either, it is (although prob not meant) a slight encouragement. Dunno really.
i would have thought that it would be more sensible for the phsyciatrist or whoever does the one2one with you to talk to you before or at least during rather than after becuase they might say someone that really means something and helps you but its too late youv already self harmed. if they spoke to you before they could completely prevent you from doing it. also do they actuli watch you do it cos that would freak me out?!
well... I've held back on posting while I really thought about this.... and I just am not sure about this at all.
I don't think you can compare giving drug users clean works to giving self-injurers clean blades. Heroin users contract blood borne viruses as a "side effect" of sharing works. The use of clean works eliminates that risk, and is very necessary. But if used correctly none of the equipment provided by the NHS shouldn't damage them - though the Heroin (or whatever they are injecting) may well do. (emphasis on used correctly)
Give someone a clean blade and they WILL damage themselves. That's the point.
As someone who self-injures I am torn as to whether I would want a blade from a nurse or not. To be honest - blades are cheap, first aid equipment is expensive.
As a worker, I would be extremely uncomfortable giving a blade to a client who wanted to hurt themselves, or leaving them with a blade given to them by a nurse.
eeeee, it's a tricky one. I suppose the whole point is about harm reduction rather than prevention, it's a stop gap. But I can just foresee so many problems with it. Also I really cannot see my psych or my GP condoning me being giving blades, they keep telling me to get rid of mine.
So, I guess I have nothing really new to add to the argument, but that's my disjointed opinion
x
Last edited by Artychik : 12-06-2007 at 02:32 AM.
Reason: missed out a word!
I would go for clean blades, I used to cut with all kinds of awful things.
First aid would be really good, and effective coping strategies would be even better.
I remember, back when I was really struggling to stop, I asked at the hospital what the 'safest' places to cut were (away from veins, etc. -'cause it's not always obvious) and no-one would tell me because "I might get the impression it was ok to be doing it".
I knew it wasn't ok, nobody want's to be cutting (I assume, I mean, I sure don't). I think they should definatly give people a thorough mental health check before they decide if giving them a clean blade is going to be helpful or detrimental, 'cause it's not going to be the same in every case.
God is the only one who sees me as beautiful now, and the eyes of God are the only eyes I care about...
You cant compare the needle exchange program with a blade exchange program. I would never share my blades with another harmer and have always used clean ones because of infection etc. It is easy enough to find them but that is not the same with needles partly because it can be a social thing and they are darn right hard to get hold of to.
There are some exceptions to this in my mind. Places like prison, psych hospitals and places where blades are hard to obtain so reusing is common, should have blade exchange places to reduce infections and having contraband items. This may also mean that people struggling can be highlighted and given more appropriate help.
I know if a nurse gave me a blade and said there you go take care bye. I'd feel like crap because it would just feel like I didnt do it right first time.
I think being taught how to clean wounds and given the appropriate bandages along with proper psychiatric help would be much better and if in that package you got free blades fair enough at least you have got it with other things and most importantly help.
My biggest concern would be if a blade was sharper than what a patient was used to much more damage could be done entirely unintentionally and a progression in self harm is in no ones interest.
p.s. I like the idea of more discussions :)
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I had a think about it and I reckon if there going to hand out anything it oughta be sterile needles, without going into too much detail these are chaper [sp desposible] cause less daage over all, but sting quite badly.
Better still put the moent into some decent ideas folks!
We enjoy warmth because we have been cold. We appreciate light because we have been in the darkness. By the same token, we can experience joy because we have known sadness.
I think that it is good that they have taken into account that self-harmers may ned to self harm whilst in hospital.
However, if they are in hospital to help to quit self harm then surely there should be a limit, like you only allowed them for the first to weeks of being in hospital of something, that means that there are restrictions on the use of the blades and may me that people don't take to much advantage on the free, extra sharp surgical blades, because that could cause people to cause more serious damage to themselves than the blades they are used too. x x x
I have given somebody a clean blade before because they were using a very unsterile unsafe tool. I looked him in the eye and said "I dont want you to harm yourself, but if you're going to, I'd rather you do it safely."
I think if somebody wants to SI, they are going to do it anyway, no matter what you do, unless you physically restrain them which is not generally possible. So if you can make it a bit safer, that can only be a positive thing. I dont think its encouragement.
s a r a h
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yupp;; i remember the whole kings cross injecting room thing. it was all over tv.
it is similar..but they were doing that room because drug users were sharing needles and increasing the risk of AIDs etc. From what i know i dont think people share blades. Well ive not heard of it.
But like i said up there ^^^^ there not giving out blades.
We enjoy warmth because we have been cold. We appreciate light because we have been in the darkness. By the same token, we can experience joy because we have known sadness.
personally, I think it's a good idea, but they should only give blades to people whi have been to the ER more than once. I think it's better for people to have something safe to cut with..
Sure the blades are "safe" (but I'd guess sharper than what most cutters have), but handing them out won't solve anything. Just reduce the infection rate a little. It's sending out the wrong message, that cutters don't need support so much, they just need easier access to sterile cutting tools.
Plus I don't think many actual cutters would go, unless this was part of some inpatient program. If this happened in the U.S, there's no way I could to drive to my hospital, walk up to the receptionist in the waiting room and pronounce, "I cut myself. Can I have a clean blade to do more cutting please?"
Some people above have mentioned there could be some room in a hospital where you go cut yourself.. and then get patched up or whatever by a nurse. I don't know about any of you but that sounds terrifying to me, to know someone is just letting you cut, knowing you're cutting, waiting just outside to see your injuries. I can't think a nurse subjected to this would be very kindly either.
this whole nurses giving out blades is a good idea i think not just because it will ensure the safty of the sh but it will make it easier to seek medical help when you self harm and need medical attention. i live in the in the us and i know for a fact that if you seek any jind of medical help they are crual and will treat you horribly. i have been sutered and stapled so many times with out lidocaine i cant even count them. the doctors and nurses here are so insensitive to what the needs of a sh are. they do not see that we hurt badly or else we would not do this we are just viewed as a waste of time and energy. if they adopted the whole idea of handing out blades maybe the stigma would be removed and society better educated on this disorder.
Kids parens trust the nhs right? so if i came back from the hospital after getting stitches with a brand new blade it'd encourage people to selfharm more with a sharper(maybe cleaner) blade but it's still a blade. I know my parents wouldn't be to impressed with it....not that they no but you get my point. Kitty x
yeah...if i came home with stitches after cutting with a sharper blade thanks to the nhs,people woulnd't be to happy...
in a sense its good...ie clean blades.
but apart from that..its a stark raving mental idea.
*just my opinion*
