2004/031 New guideline to standardise care for people who self-harm

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health (NCCMH) have published a guideline for the NHS in England and Wales on the care of people who self-harm. The guideline makes recommendations for the physical, psychological and social assessment and treatment by primary and secondary care of people in the first 48 hours after having self-harmed. It covers acts of self-harm that are an expression of personal distress and where the person directly intends to injure him/herself, for example through cutting or poisoning (overdosing).