West Norfolk woman Sally Panks starts new business specifically designed to support those affected by self-harm

A woman has started up her own business to help those affected by self-harm after witnessing the issue first-hand within her family.

Sally Panks, 51 from Pott Row, has launched S&L Safe Cut Kit, offering equipment that is specifically designed to help people who self-harm.

When a young family member began to self-harm, it was one of the hardest things Sally had to deal with. Professional services recommended she put together a ‘safe cut kit’ for her, but she did not know where to start.

Sally said: “There was nothing available dedicated to my daughter’s needs, a kit designed specifically for self-harmers.”

But a few years on, Sally has decided to put together her own kits, primarily promoting a ‘delay and replace’ strategy with items for “safer, alternative methods of self-harm”. So far, she has sold more than 250.

She says the theory behind it is if you can delay your thought process for between 30 and 45 seconds, you are less likely to self-harm - so in the kits there are elastic bands people can put on their wrists and flick, which still causes pain but is less harmful.

The kits also include red pens so people can draw mock wounds on their skin. Sally says that if people have what looks like a wound, they will still treat it as such and it will take their mind away from self-harm.

There are also ice cube moulds that users can freeze and hold in their hand to achieve a painful burn which is not as harmful.

There is a stress ball, a journal and a pencil to write down thoughts and feelings, while first aid supplies are carefully chosen for cut-style wounds. Plasters are long and thin, and alcohol-free dressing means the kits are safe for alcohol addicts as well.

Sally said: “Self-harm is becoming increasingly common. 17% of people will self-harm during their lifetime. In context, in a class of 30 pupils, five of them will self-harm.

“There are many myths around self harm. One is that only young people self-harm, but in fact, numbers are rising in both young people and men in their mid-30s. It is not just a young person's coping strategy. It affects anyone from any background and age range.”

Sally hopes her new business will help people to manage their self-harm, and that the first aid equipment can help to lessen any potential scarring.

The kits can be purchased on Sally’s website https://www.safecutkits.co.uk/ - as well as her shop on eBay and Etsy.

S&L Safe Cut Kits also runs a private support group on Facebook, where people can post anonymously in a safe, non-judgmental space.

The group also has professionals who can offer guidance and support. Anyone is free to join if they need support surrounding self-harm or anything mental health-related.

Sally and her daughter-in-law, Laura Panks - who helps with the kits and events - are also happy to discuss self-harm, what to look for, and how to manage it.

Dates for the events are posted across their media accounts.

For confidential support on an emotional issue, call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time.

If you want to talk to someone confidentially, click here.