Cases of self-harm in the UK are among the highest in Europe. Reporter Samantha Payne speaks to workers at Bethlem Hospital about the work they are doing to help people who cut themselves.

Self-harm can take a number of forms from cutting and scratching to punching.

The Crisis Recovery Unit (CRU) at Bethlem Hospital in Beckenham, the only one of its kind in the NHS, aims to combat the long-standing emotional problems which cause people to self-harm.

Its aim is to be seen as a "stepping stone" in a process of change for residents rather than as a "cure".

It is a move away from traditional nursing where patients were prevented from self- harming.

The unit tolerates self-harm to ensure patients have responsibility for their behaviour.

Experience has shown when patient's choice is removed it makes their progress difficult.

The unit's team is made up of nurses, psychiatrists, a social worker, psychologist, occupational therapists, drama and dance therapists.

It combines intensive therapy programmes for patients with social and sport activities.

Clinical nurse leader Jane Bunclark said: "Working in a unit which tolerates residents self-harming is both a challenging and, at times, anxiety-provoking hospital environment to work in.

"But, by allowing residents to retain responsibility for their behaviour and working with them in an intensive individual and group multidisciplinary programme, we can help residents improve relationships with themselves and others.

"This can help move away from lives dominated by self-harm."

The CRU has six bedrooms for residents who stay for up to six months.

Established in 1992, it has helped 300 patients, aged 20 to 50.

But it still predominately attracts women and staff want to try to reflect the real ratio of people who self-harm.

Occupational therapist Carole Hardy said: "We want to help more men. A lot of them end up in the criminal justice system rather than in the health service.

"The work on the unit is intense and often painful but it's immensely rewarding being able to support individuals to begin to heal their innermost life scars."

For more details visit slam.nhs.uk

MARY'S FIGHT TO GET LIFE ON TRACK

A 21-year-old woman was admitted to the CRU last December after spending 11 months in a hospital psychiatric ward in Cardiff.

Mary had started self-harming when she was eight years old.

She used to bang her head against walls and began cutting herself at the age of 12.

She also used to hit herself with hammers.

When her GCSEs started she used to cut her arms and legs regularly.

She said: "It was a way I could release the tension. I couldn't express it in any other way other than to cut it out of me. I also looked at it as a way of controlling things.

"I used to cut myself with scissors. It got worse with razors. I found it addictive to get a release of feelings.

"I wasn't happy at home. I used to be scared of my dad and longed to be loved."

The former nursery nurse says being at the CRU was the best thing she could have done to get her life on track.

"It definitely reduced my self-harming. They help you make sense of things. For the last eight or nine weeks I didn't harm and since I was discharged in December last year I have only self-harmed three times.

"I like myself now and I look forward to a future."