Rapid access to brief psychological treatments for self-harm and suicidal crisis

Abstract

Suicide is an important public health issue. Over 800 000 people die by suicide each year worldwide, 1 and approximately 6000 people per year in the UK. 2 Self-harm is a public health priority. Self-harm is defined as any intentional act of self-injury or self-poisoning regardless of motivation or suicidal intent. elf-harm is associated with personal and social difficulties, as well as increased risk of suicide and premature death by other causes. The number of presentations for suicidal crisis without physical injury at emergency departments is unknown. In the UK, the increasing impact of those visits is evident through the increasing number of community crisis resolution/home treatment/'first response' schemes, and more recently the Core 24 response initiative. The Core 24