A SURVEY OF DELIBERATE SELF-HARM SERVICES IN NEW-ZEALAND - SHOULD-NOTWE BE DOING BETTER

Aims. Deliberate self harm is important because it is common, it is as sociated with suicide and it provides a window of opportunity to provi de help to people who do not access the usual mental health services. This survey aimed to describe the management and provision of services in New Zealand public general hospitals for people who deliberately h arm themselves. Methods, A questionnaire asking about deliberate self harm was sent to all 23 CHE's in New Zealand. Results. Nineteen CHE's returned the questionnaire. There was widespread differences in the pr ovision of services and the management of deliberate self harm, For ex ample some admitted nearly everyone who presented whilst others only a dmitted 20%. Only two CHE's said they kept any computerised records of this population and only six had a psychiatrist responsible for the d eliberate self harm service. Conclusions, Provision for the general ho spital management of deliberate self harm is unplanned and disorganise d. There should be centrally funded units which monitor deliberate sel f harm; standards for management of deliberate self harm in the genera l hospital should be produced; purchasers should use these standards i n contracts with providers to insist on better care of this group of p atients.