What happens when they leave hospital?
- When children and young people who self-harm leave hospital, they may receive ongoing care from a number of different individuals and services.
- Ongoing support is determined by their level of risk. This is established through a comprehensive assessment conducted by a qualified practitioner.
- This assessment is complex. The impact of each risk factor varies from person to person and can fluctuate depending on the mood and circumstances of a child and young person at any one time.
Risk levels - indicators and service options
Select the levels above to explore risk indicators and service options.
Risk level: Low
Indicators
- Self-harm as coping mechanism
- Fleeting thoughts of suicide but no intent or plan
- Protective factors evident including support network, hope of recovery, seeking help
Service Options
- Counselling service
- School nurse
- Self-help resources and online information
- General practitioner
Risk level: Medium
Indicators
- Suicidal thoughts frequently but no specific plan or immediate intent
- Evidence of persistent symptoms of mental ill health in particularly depression, anxiety or psychosis
- Significant alcohol and/or substance use
- Previous suicide attempts
- Current self harm
- Reluctance to share with support network or withdrawal from peers and/or family
Service Options
- Counselling service
- School nurse
- Self-help resources and online information
- General practitioner
- Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Risk level: High
Indicators
- Frequent suicidal thoughts with increased intensity which are difficult to ignore
- Some planning/intent or ambivalence
- Research of potentially lethal means
- Access to means
- Previous suicide attempts
- Significant alcohol and/or substance use
- Withdrawal from support network
- Evidence of persistent symptoms of mental ill health especially depression, anxiety or psychosis
- Family history of, or peer suicide
Service Options
- General practitioner
- Specialist Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) referral
- Increased support from existing network – increased monitoring and review
Angela's story"On one occasion, things were very bad so I took some paracetamol which seemed like a good idea at the time. The next day I told a teacher what I had done, she totally freaked out and they took me to A&E. Soon I found myself on a hospital ward. I had to stay overnight – I was terrified. I had to speak to a person from the mental health team and I told them what had happened. They let me go home later that day and I went to see someone every couple of weeks from the CAMHS team, they helped to solve my issues and also spoke to the school and the bullying got better."
Tim's story"I had to go to hospital a couple of times because the cuts were really bad. It was ok I guess, I mean, I felt really alone when I was there and I didn't really get that much support or anything. But I guess I do though - when I go to my counsellor."
[Biographical account read by actors]