A Childs Voice 
Open Journal of Social Science ID 6501218
 

Abstract

Children’s self-harm and suicidal distress represent an escalating public health and safeguarding concern internationally. Despite a substantial evidence base within clinical psychology and psychiatry, preventative interventions for children are predominantly developed and delivered within medicalised settings, often limiting their accessibility and relevance for everyday social work, education, and safeguarding practice. This paper presents the development, implementation, and early outcomes of A Child’s Voice, a structured ten-week self-harm and suicide prevention programme co-designed with children and young people. The programme aims to bridge the persistent gap between clinical research and frontline practice by translating evidence-informed principles into developmentally appropriate, safeguarding-led interventions that can be delivered outside clinical contexts. Central to the programme’s design is the ethical involvement of children as co-designers, recognising them as experts in their own lives while maintaining professional accountability and risk management. Drawing on practice-based evidence from early cohorts, this paper reports reductions in self-harm behaviours and suicidal thoughts, improved emotional literacy, enhanced engagement with education, and increased practitioner confidence. Qualitative feedback from children, families, and schools further contextualises these outcomes. The paper contributes to the growing literature on co-produced, early-intervention approaches within children’s mental health and safeguarding systems, offering a replicable model for integrating research evidence, social work values, and children’s voices.

Keywords: children’s mental health; self-harm prevention; suicide prevention; co-design; safeguarding; social work practice; early intervention