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Self-harmers need to be seen in hospital, there's a plan to make that happen

There’s a new plan to ensure people who self-harm get the help they need.

THERE’S A NEW plan to ensure that people who’ve self-harmed are properly treated in hospital before it happens again or before they take their own life.

The HSE says that 33 specially trained nurses will be in emergency departments (ED) around the country to deliver the new programme.

Experts in the sector say that long-waits for patients who’ve self-harmed sometimes leads to them leaving hospital without seeing anyone, with potentially fatal consequences.

In 2014, there were 11,126 self-harm presentations to Irish hospitals and 459 deaths by suicide.

As well as dealing with the self-harm episode, the specialist nurse will be able to set-up aftercare appointments for patients and even involve family and friends if its deemed necessary.

The idea is to expedite access to mental health services once it’s established how severe a person’s problem is and to ultimately reduce repetitive self-harming.

Repetitive self-harming is known to be associated with an increased risk of completed suicide.

The programme was developed by the HSE in partnership with the College of Psychiatrists’ of Ireland. Its director Dr John Hillery believes the programme will undoubtedly help if it is adequately supported.

“It should make a huge difference if it’s given the right resources,” he says.

Usually a GP has to send the person off to the ED or maybe get an appointment with the local clinic as soon as possible, but it depends on where you are and what timeline is available and maybe you go to the ED and are there for hours.

Ultimately, this can prove to be a big problem.

“It’s something I would have experienced as a doctor and as someone people would talk to about it,” Dr Hillery explains.

People wait for two hours and then go home. In the worst case scenario you hear they unfortunately harm themselves further or take their own life. Someone who is in that much distress shouldn’t have to wait.

Part of the programme also provides for the training of staff who may be dealing with episodes of self-harm. Dr. Hillery notes that ensuring staff have the chance to complete this training will vital to the success of the programme.

The new National Clinical Programme on the the management of self-harm in Irish hospitals is part of the overall National Strategy to Reduce Suicide.

Helplines:

  • Samaritans 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
  • Console  1800 247 247 – (suicide prevention, self-harm, bereavement)
  • Aware 1890 303 302 (depression, anxiety)
  • Pieta House 01 601 0000 or email mary@pieta.ie - (suicide, self-harm)
  • Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634 (for ages 13 to 19)
  • Childline 1800 66 66 66 (for under 18s)

- Additional reporting by Michelle Hennessy

Read: Mother tells inquest that son who overdosed ‘should never have been let out of hospital’ >

WATCH: Bressie gives impassioned speech about the ‘epidemic of this generation’ >

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16 Comments
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    Mute Lewis Armstrong
    Favourite Lewis Armstrong
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    Sep 23rd 2023, 11:33 AM

    There are in fact bad dog breeds and it is not just about bad owners. These are animals and can just snap; the key issue is whether a dog could be capable of killing a small child and, if so, they should be banned. If a dog cannot be physically overpowered by an adult then there is no question it should be destroyed and banned. No value to society having these types of creatures kept in peoples homes.

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    Mute Wombleman
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    Sep 23rd 2023, 11:57 AM

    @Lewis Armstrong: couldn’t agree more. Focus should be on propensity to do extreme physical harm and nothing else.

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    Mute Tommy Haze
    Favourite Tommy Haze
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    Sep 23rd 2023, 12:55 PM

    Saw a young woman walking down the street with an American bully recently.
    Her dog spotted another dog across the street and took off. He literally dragged her on the ground across the street. Fortunately the other dog had skidaddled.
    She got up, her jeans were ripped from being dragged.
    She said:
    ‘Brutus, behave yourself’
    She had no control of that dog.

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    Mute Paul
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    Sep 23rd 2023, 5:00 PM

    Guns dont kill people, people kill people.

    Rabid killer fighting dogs dont kill people, bad owners do..blah blah blah.

    1. Muzzle all dogs in public.
    2. Impound and euthanized unmuzzled dogs
    3. Make owners fully criminally responsible for the actions of their killer pets.
    4. Enforce the above strictly.

    No more dog attacks.

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    Mute Cornelius Murphy
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    Aug 29th 2024, 10:08 PM

    There is NO enforcement of dog laws. we need police and dog wardens…..

    (yes, I have two licenced rescue dogs)

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