Improving the management of self-harm in primary care
Self-harm is sometimes seen by health professionals as a minor problem, yet the risk of suicide is increased fifty-fold in the year after a self-harm episode compared to the general population. Reducing rates of self-harm is a national policy priority but research suggests that self-harm presentatio...
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| Published in: | British journal of general practice Vol. 73; no. 729; pp. 148 - 149 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
England
Royal College of General Practitioners
01-04-2023
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | Self-harm is sometimes seen by health professionals as a minor problem, yet the risk of suicide is increased fifty-fold in the year after a self-harm episode compared to the general population. Reducing rates of self-harm is a national policy priority but research suggests that self-harm presentations to general practice are increasing. Self-harm is defined as intentional self-injury or poisoning regardless of suicidal intent and can occur at any age. In young females, around one in four have a lifetime history of self-harm. In older adults who have self-harmed the risk of suicide is particularly high. Reliable data about self-harm are relatively sparse because self-harm may be hidden, and even when people do present to clinical services self-harm may be poorly recorded. It is estimated that there are around 228 000 self-harm hospital presentations each year in England that result in NHS treatment costs of ^£128 million. Even though some people have a single [episode of self-harm, around one in five repeat self-harm within 1 year of hospital presentation. |
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| Bibliography: | SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 content type line 23 ObjectType-Editorial-2 ObjectType-Commentary-1 |
| ISSN: | 0960-1643 1478-5242 1478-5242 |
| DOI: | 10.3399/BJGP23X732297 |