dream on

Deliberate self harm ( DSH) : is a deliberate non fatal act, wheter a drug overdose, physical slashing of wrists, done in the knowledge that it was potentialy harmful and in hte case of overdose, that the amount taken was excessive.

Management:

• No specific management techniques
• focussing on the act may worsen the situation or increase the frequency of self harm ( Hawton & Catalon 1987)

SOCIO - DEMOGRAPHIC RISK FACTORS:

• Suicide:
• male, increases with age, unemployed, single/divorced.
• Lower social class
• Economically deprived
• debts
• Deliberate Self HArm:
• Female, usually less than 25 years
• unemployed or non attender at school
• single/ divorced
• lower social class
• significant debts.

C LINICAL RISK FACTORS:

• Suicide:
• previous suicide behaviour
• family history of suicide
• evidence of mental iollness especially depression or schizophrenia
• alcohol/ substance abuse
• serious physical illness e.g. debilitating or terminal
• cognitive dysfunction especially apathy, anger, hopelessness.
• significant life event e.g. bereavement
• Deliberate Self Harm
• Previous deliberate self harm
• family history of psychiatric illness
• psychiatric illness in the young person especially personality or post traumatic stress disorder
• alcohol/substance misuse
• recent physical illnesses
• admission to hospital
• cognitive dysfunction
• history of care/sexual abuse
• Factors commonly linked to suicide and DSH in young people:
• Family dysfunction
• Relationship problems
  
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Custody - YOI/ Prison
• Personal knowledge of DSH/ Suicide victim