Best practice hospital management of self-harm

In the video below, Dr Pauline Turnbull talks about the clinical guidance available on the hospital management of self-harm.

You can also view a transcript (PDF).

NICE guidelines for self-harm

NICE guidelines on the short and long-term management of self-harm contain detailed guidance about care provided by primary, community and secondary health and social care services.

This guidance can help to improve services for people who self-harm, and help services to support people in reducing and eventually stopping their self-harm.

You can access these resources at the links below:

• short-term management and prevention of recurrence
• long-term management of self-harm.

The Quality Standard for Self-Harm

In 2013, NICE published the Quality Standard for Self-Harm, which should be read in conjunction with the short- and longer-term management guidance.

The quality standard includes eight key components of best practice that, when implemented, will help to raise the standards of care for people who self-harm:

1. People are treated with compassion, respect and dignity.
2. They receive an initial assessment of physical health, mental state, social circumstances and risk of suicide.
3. They receive a comprehensive psychosocial assessment.
4. They receive the monitoring they need to keep them safe.
5. They are cared for in a safe physical environment.
6. Collaborative risk management plans are in place.
7. They have access to psychological interventions.
8. There is a transition plan when moving between services.

In the Mash Learning section:

• What is self-harm? 
• The epidemiology and risk factors for self-harm 
• Best practice hospital management of self-harm
• Is hospital management of self-harm improving? 
• Practical clinical guidance 
• Further information