What is Harmless?


Harmless is a user led non profit project based in the UK, whose aim is to provide a range of services, education and support relating to Self Harm. Since they started at grassroots level in 2007, they have gone from strength to strength in helping others understand Self harm, increasing outlets for support, training professionals and challenging stigma and misconceptions about self harm.

In 2008-9 Harmless created a DVD called ‘Out of Harm’s way’, featuring personal experiences of self harm. The trailer for this was featured on deviantArt in my article making sense of self harm. In fact several writers from DeviantArt submitted poetry to compliment the DVD features with a positive reception from Harmless. It is this reception and the reaction this wonderful community had to the trailer that have got Harmless asking for more help from deviantArt.



“In Our Own Words”- Book Project


The Book Project has been created by Harmless to create a resource for all kinds of audience. The main aims of the book are to:


Reduce isolation for those who are struggling to cope.
Challenge the Stigma that comes with Self Harm
Reach out to all kinds of people, whether they are personally suffering or are family, friends or professionals.
To bridge the gap of understanding between people who Self Harm, and those who don’t.
To express some human experience in hope of gaining understanding.


Harmless want to hear from all kinds of people with all sorts of backgrounds to submit to this book. Whether you have experienced self harm personally, or through friends and family, or if you are a professional who has maybe had some experience. You could be someone who just wants to reach out to people, or show people there is a road to recovery. If you feel you have something to offer, then please submit.


We are looking for the following pieces:


Personal Experiences
Poetry
Prose
Photography
Traditional Artwork



Criteria for Writing Submissions


The concept of the book is to contain a variety of short stories, experiences and poetry connected to self harm. We’re looking for all sorts of works from different people and different backgrounds, and diversity in the pieces is a very important factor in the selection process. Therefore in writing, we’re not looking for those common words that come together when discussing Self Harm, but something more unique.

The Personal experiences can be written by anyone. They can be moments or memories more than full stories. They don’t necessarily have to be directly about the act of self harm, but accounts of struggles, understanding or even recalling the causes behind the actions. You could be a friend or a parent of someone who self harms recalling how you felt when you found out, or perhaps a nurse who has had to look after someone. These are just a few examples.

The poetry pieces can be fiction or nonfiction and again can fit the above criteria. We also are interested in poems of positivity, something for example could make someone feel better about themselves or maybe just something others could relate to.

Prose submissions are looking for short pieces again something to fit the above criteria, but an example would be a short story about overcoming something, or something that can encourage someone to smile.

All literature based submissions will have an uppermost word limit of 2000 words. Due to the volume of expected submissions Vs the content space, this has been discussed as the highest limit. Please be aware any pieces over 2000 words will be sent back to you to reduce the word count, or not read.


Criteria for Visual Submissions


The Artwork requested for this project comes from two different initiatives.

The first is similar to the requirement of literature, where we are looking for submissions that express Self harm and the connecting issues surrounding it. These don’t necessarily have to be about self harm, but expressions of feelings or encouraging a positive reaction.

The second is to seek work that would complement the writings. This is entirely up to your own judgement.

There is a strict rule that no images of direct Self harm or any images that may be of a triggering nature should be submitted. Please be respectful and consider this prior to submission.

Traditional Art and Photography is preferred, but if you do have something from another art form you would like to submit, we will welcome it. (i.e. digital works)



Where to submit


Please send all submissions to inourownwords@hotmail.co.uk . All text based submissions will need to be posted in the body of your email and not in an attachment. You do not have to, but if you wish to leave your name and tell us a little bit about yourself (just a paragraph please), feel free to.

Please do not note your submissions to me directly. However if you do have any questions you would rather not post on this Article, feel free to do so. I will endeavour to answer all questions.

The deadline for all submissions is 31st July 2009.


Support


If you are personally seeking support or advice about Self Harm, please feel free to contact Harmless at the Harmless website or email info@harmless.org.uk for more information. This is not exclusive to the UK.


Thank you

`Beccalicious