Assessment and management of self-harm and suicide risk in young people

What you need to knowSpeak to young people with respect, compassion, and sympathyDo not solely use risk assessment scores, tools, or stratification to inform treatmentEach young person requires a personalised assessment of unmet clinical needs and tailored treatmentA 16 year old girl visits her general practitioner (GP) with her mother and describes how she is being bullied at school and how she has felt more anxious as a result. The GP notices a cut on her left wrist.A 23 year old man is brought into the emergency department by paramedics after taking an overdose of paracetamol at home a few hours earlier.In both cases, the doctor wants to know how to adequately assess the self-harm episode and how best to help the young person.Self-harm and suicide in young people are growing and serious public health concerns. Young people can present with self-harm or suicidal thoughts in all clinical contexts. However,…
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