Assembly

[Void of Creation]

okay so, at my school we started this new group called bully blasters. it helps people deal with bulllying. any way, today i pitched an idea to have people who have or are still self harming(specifically cutting), to stand up and speak out in an assembly. maybe you could do the same at your schools to spread the word. the butterfly project is going to be a big part of this.

[BruceLeeDemarcus]

I agree with this a lot, but my school really wouldn't do programs like this.

[Void of Creation]

well, we're not really sure yet. our principal is a pretty strict guy. he might worry that this would somehow encourage students to injure, but the guidance counselor i talked to is his gf, so maybe.

[Dez]

I agree that I really like this idea. I hope it works, and maybe it'll catch on!

[αγάπη]

I like the idea, as long as the kids who speak up won't be bullied and picked on. I know my school would never EVER do anything like that. Everybody seems so uptight.

[bitesize]

In theory it's a good idea, but I can't personally see anyone I know being willing to get up in front of a few hundred of their peers and talk about their self-injury. That would never, ever have happened at my school. I think it's great that you're positive about this but I wouldn't get your hopes up too far. :/

[xxprincessxx]

It's not a bad idea, but I don't know if it's exactly a really safe idea, especially in a jr. high/high school setting. A lot of kids don't understand self-harm, so these kids might get picked on by other students for it! Or if a student is still self-harming or even did self-harm, an authority would have to let the parent of that student know, just because of regulations.

As I said, it's a great idea. But maybe instead of having kinds in the school who struggle with it, you should get people from outside the school talk about it. (if this would ever get passed by the principle.) I think awareness is always a good thing, if you go about it in the right direction!

Good idea, just make sure you think about it a little more.

[Unfortunate]

My school has too many bullies, all the people who would talk would get bullied. But it's a great idea!

[Void of Creation]

ah, see. i didn't know about the regulations. good to know. and true, people would get picked on by weak minded fools, but the ones i've got listed to speak if there's a chance have a good set of friends behind them. i totally get what you mean, though. people don't understand something, so they make a joke out of it. that's the source of the problem.

[Discombobulated]

I think this is a really great idea and i really hope it catches on!

My school wouldn't allow it, as they would think it is spreading a bad message, also theres not many kids that would stand up infront of 900 of their peers and talking about their SelfHarm. But i do think it's a brilliant idea. Let us know how it goes

[Carpe Diem]

I don't think it's a bad idea, but like Sammie said, people at your age in general don't really understand this concept very well so you could be putting the kids at risk. Also, it may be hard to get kids to want to come up and speak to the school, or to get your principle (especially since you said he was strict) to approve this. Good luck with this though, it can turn out pretty well if it goes right.

[Childish Giggle]

It is a brilliant idea. It'll either make things easy or make them really nasty. There will be people who'll understand you and there will be others who'll be a total bitch about it. Still, it takes a lot of courage to do something like this. I'll be really proud of you if you somehow do it.
What you can do is look up myths about Self Harmers on the internet and tell those myths in the assembly. Basically explain things so that the mindless fools don't think you're freaks or anything. Getting across the message that if you can't help then at least shut up will be awesome!
Also, if a professional like maybe the school counselor speaks something on it, that would be great.
Try to get those kids to empathize and not sympathize.
Check out these links. They have some nice information that you can use.
-Basics about Self Injury
-Myths and Facts
-Common questions about SH
- Myths
I hope it works out!

[Le bonheur*]

In my own opinion:
Honestly, I don't think it's a good idea. I think it'd be a huge problem for teens to get up and talk about their self-harm to their peers, bullies, teachers, etc. It could put them at risk for being bullied more AND I think it'd set a trend. People who don't currently SH may think it's okay to SH and that they'll get attention that way.

I personally would never get up and talk about how I self-harm(ed). I'd rather keep that stuff to myself. But that's just me.

If it ends up going through and you have the assembly, let us know how it goes.

[Illuminate]

I'm sorry to say that I don't really like this idea. I love your want for change and peace but I really don't think people would want to speak openly about such a person issue. Some people find it hard to even confide in their therapists or parents.
Maybe you could do an assembly on self harm and suicide awareness instead of your original idea.

Take care

[SoraKat]

My school would say no, not even an option. They pretend we dont have any problems in our private christian school and wont hire a guidance counselor cause apparently we are all FINE duhhh! hahaha.... but whatever.

I wish i could stand up and talk about it. And tell people how to treat others... id talk about the cyberbullying and the threatening and the sinking... and then the way that i saw light. : ) i think itd be good.

[Void of Creation]

(Maybe you could do an assembly on self harm and suicide awareness instead of your original idea)
that's a good idea. very good. so good, i'm stroking my imaginary beard and thinking.

(If it ends up going through and you have the assembly, let us know how it goes. )
i will let you know. definitely.

(Also, if a professional like maybe the school counselor speaks something on it, that would be great. )
ah, see. we're going to have the counselor over our group speak with us. that and maybe some people who have witnessed self harm but not done it.

[MusicIsEverything]

See, I think it's a great idea, but at my school I could never do that. I would be too afraid to talk to everyone about my cutting, and I don't know anyone else at my school who cuts, or anyone who might. But I think, if you can do it, it an awesome idea.

[SM13]

I've been in the process with my councilor of starting something like this at my school.

[Void of Creation]

cool, very cool. every school that does something like this is just another that helps the cause. i'm actually thinking about starting a website, campaign for it.