13.1 Self harm and suicide

Concerned about a child or young person?

If you are worried that a child or young person is at risk, involve your designated safeguarding lead as a matter of priority, who will contact the parents/carers and other services as necessary. If the child or young person is at immediate risk, ensure that they are taken to their GP or A&E as a matter of urgency, depending on the severity of the concern.

Self Harm and Suicide Ideation:

Self-harm, suicide threats and gestures by a child must always be taken seriously and may be indicative of a serious mental or emotional disturbance. The frequency of self-harming behaviours in young people from middle childhood onwards is significantly increasing with adolescence being a key period of vulnerability. Whilst girls are more likely to present with impulsive and planned overdoses, often over the counter medication and easily available tablets, boys are at greater risk of completed suicide with few warning signs prior to the act of self-harm.

Self-harm is when someone hurts themselves deliberately to manage distressing or overwhelming feelings or experiences.

Someone who is self-harming may be dealing with lots of intense thoughts and feelings. Hurting themselves can feel like the only way to cope, or they might feel numb and hurt themselves so they can feel something.

Act to Safeguard:

All staff who have contact with people who self-harm should:

• understand when and how to apply the safeguarding principles of the Care Act 2014, the Children Act 1989, and the Children and Families Act 2014;
• ask about safeguarding concerns, for example, domestic abuse, violence or exploitation at the earliest opportunity and, if appropriate, when the person is alone;
• explore whether the person's needs should be assessed and documented according to local safeguarding procedures;
• be aware of local safeguarding procedures for vulnerable adults and children in their care, and seek advice from the local named lead on safeguarding if needed.

If people who self-harm are referred to local health and social care services under local safeguarding procedures, use a multi-agency approach, including education and/or third sector services, to ensure that different areas of the person's life are taken into account when assessing and planning for their needs.

Please see Sefton's Practice Guidance for Professionals

Please also see Regional Guidance Here:  Cheshire_and_Mersey_CYP_Self_Harm_Practice_Guide_Dec_2021_FINAL.pdf

Also make reference to the NICE Guidance: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng225/resources/selfharm-assessment-management-and-preventing-recurrence-pdf-66143837346757