Program Goals

The goals of Calm Harm are:

• Reduce the frequency and intensity of self-harm urges.
• Develop healthier coping strategies for managing distressing emotions.
• Increase self-awareness and understanding of triggers related to self-harm.
• Enhance skills for emotional regulation and impulse control.
• Promote a sense of control over thoughts and feelings during moments of crisis.
• Encourage the use of distraction techniques to manage overwhelming emotions.
• Foster self-reflection through tracking moods and identifying progress.
• Build confidence in managing self-harm urges independently.
• Reduce feelings of isolation by providing a tool that is always available for support.
• Improve overall mental well-being by offering safe, alternative ways to cope with distress​​​.

Logic Model

The program representative did not provide information about a Logic Model for Calm Harm.

Essential Components

The essential components of Calm Harm include:

• Self-Guided Mobile Application:
• Accessible via smartphones and tablets, providing 24/7 availability to users
• Designed for individual use, allowing young people to access support privately at their own pace
• Five Core Task Categories:
• Distract: Activities to divert attention from self-harm urges, encouraging engagement in alternative tasks such as drawing or playing games
• Comfort: Techniques to soothe and calm, such as listening to music or using relaxation exercises
• Express: Encourages expressing emotions in safe ways, including journaling, drawing, or creative activities
• Release: Provides physical activities as safe alternatives to self-harm, like squeezing a stress ball or tearing paper
• Breathe: Guided breathing exercises to help users relax and manage anxiety
• Customizable Safety Plan:
• Allows users to create a personalized plan detailing coping strategies, contacts, and reminders for times of crisis
• Mood and Urge Tracker:
• Enables users to log their emotions and urges, helping them to identify patterns and triggers over time
• Offers insights to users about their mood trends, promoting self-awareness
• Discreet and User-Friendly Interface:
• Designed to ensure ease of use, allowing quick navigation to desired tasks and features
• Simple, aesthetically calming layout to reduce stress and enhance user comfort
• Customizable Experience by User:
• Able to set up preferences, choosing which techniques and activities work best for them
• Options to skip or modify tasks, ensuring a tailored experience based on individual needs
• Customizable Experience by Organization:
• Via the purchase of a license (customized signposting, branding and data & insights) which enables it to provide value to a health or educational organization alongside the user
• If an organization takes out a Calm Harm license, there is technical support on hand for any implementation issues. Training is available on how to embed it within a specific organization.
• Anonymity and Privacy:
• Requires no personal information, preserving user confidentiality
• Focuses on creating a safe, judgement-free space for young people to explore and manage their emotions
• Available wherever – 24/7
• Real-Time Feedback:
• Immediate responses received from the app based on user’s selections, guiding them through difficult moments
• Provides suggestions and tips on coping techniques during each session
• Educational Content:
• Explains the concepts of self-harm, emotional regulation, and coping mechanisms in simple, approachable language
• Empowers users with knowledge about self-care and mental health, reinforcing positive coping strategies
• Secure Data Handling:
• All data stored securely, with user privacy as a priority
• Offers options for users to manage their data settings, ensuring control over their personal information

Program Delivery

Child/Adolescent Services

Calm Harm directly provides services to children/adolescents and addresses the following:

• Urges to self-harm
• Emotional distress and overwhelm
• Difficulty managing intense emotions
• Impulsive behaviors related to self-harm
• Anxiety and feelings of panic
• Low emotional regulation skills
• Persistent negative thoughts or intrusive thoughts about self-harm
• Stress and difficulty coping with daily pressures
• Social isolation and lack of access to immediate support
• Feelings of guilt, shame, or low self-worth associated with self-harm

Recommended Intensity:

Variable usage: sessions are self-directed and can be used as needed by the individual. Each contact session typically ranges from 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the user's engagement with the exercises. Users may access the app multiple times a day, especially during moments of distress, or on a more infrequent basis when they feel the need for support.

Recommended Duration:

Calm Harm does not have a fixed program length; it is designed for ongoing use, with users accessing the app as needed.

Delivery Setting

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Virtual (Online, Telephone, Video, Zoom, etc.)

Homework

This program does not include a homework component.

Resources Needed to Run Program

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

Individual smartphone or tablet

Manuals and Training

Prerequisite/Minimum Provider Qualifications

There are no minimum education qualifications as the program is delivered via SmartPhone.

Manual Information

There is not a manual that describes how to deliver this program.

Training Information

There is training available for this program.

Training Contact:

• Ollie Head
  ollie@stem4.org.uk

Training Type/Location:

It is provided by clinicians via webinar for a fee

Number of days/hours:

30-60 minutes

Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research

Additional References

No reference materials are currently available for Calm Harm.