According to the whistleblower, managers at LGBT Youth Scotland allegedly justified this approach by stating that self-harm is used as a "coping mechanism," and it would be wrong to "take that away" from a child. The whistleblower reported the allegations to the Scottish charity regulator, describing the instructions as "shocking and callous."
LGBT Youth Scotland is a national charity for LGBTQ+ individuals between the ages of 13 and 25. According to its website, the organization aims to provide support, advocacy, and resources to help queer youth thrive. The organization receives more than $1 million annually in taxpayer funds.
The volunteer claimed that when they challenged the policy in October 2023, managers "dismissed" the concerns and reportedly defended self-harm as a viable alternative to children's coping mechanisms. Administrators "didn't see the issue" in supporting cutting, according to the whistleblower. The whistleblower expressed that the instructions could have been perceived by vulnerable young people as "a sign of encouragement" to continue self-harming.
"I think it's reckless to suggest to a mentally ill young person that they should be using clean razor blades," the volunteer said. "This could easily be misunderstood as a sign of encouragement that they should be engaging in acts of self harm. This is what is being taught to members of the public who volunteer for their organization. Volunteers are not mental health professionals and should, in my opinion, not be asking people if they are using 'clean razors' to carry out acts of self-injury."
According to the Scottish charity regulator, at least 13 reports have been made detailing concerns about the practices at LGBT Youth Scotland. The charity regulator told The Times that these reports have been "satisfied." However, no further details were given.
