The registry pilot was launched in 2007 by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey and the Minister for Health in the Republic of Ireland, Mary Harney as a North / South initiative between the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Co-operation and Working Together (CAWT) and the National Suicide Research Foundation (NSRF). It is in operation at three hospitals in the Western Health and Social Services Board area as part of all Island co-operation on the prevention of suicide.
Speaking on World Suicide Prevention Awareness Day, Dr Mc Bride said: “The aim of this project is to help to define the true extent of the deliberate self-harm problem in the Western Health and Social Services Board area. “
Commenting on the interim findings from the registry Dr McBride said: “This study gives us a greater understanding of deliberate self harm. It reveals the number of people who have gone to accident and emergency departments as a result of self-harming. It also provides information about the time they went to hospital and details of the methods of self harm used.
“The study also reveals that alcohol has been associated with some of the deliberate self harm cases. Whilst not a main method of self harm, it is worrying that in 59% of cases alcohol was used by the person who had self harmed. The Minister is committed to addressing the problems associated with alcohol and is developing a cross-sectoral action plan to specifically address young people’s drinking. He has met with a range of stakeholders to discuss the issue of alcohol in more detail and plans to have further meetings.”
Dr McBride said: “It is World Suicide Prevention Awareness Day today and, while suicide continues to be a problem across Northern Ireland, tackling this issue remains a top priority for the Department. The analysis of this information from hospital accident and emergency departments will inform the development of policies and shape the implementation of measures aimed at preventing self harm and suicide.”
Notes to Editors:
1. In 2007, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland commissioned Co-operation and Working Together (CAWT) to establish a pilot project to implement the work of the National Suicide Research Foundation (NSRF) within the Western Health and Social Services Board area.
2. The Deliberate Self Harm Registry was jointly launched by Minister McGimpsey and his Republic of Ireland counterpart Mary Harney in October 2007 as part of All Island co-operation on suicide prevention.
3. The Registry is being piloted at three hospital A&E units in the WHSSB area – Altnagelvin, Tyrone County and Erne.
4. Findings from the interim report:
- In 2007, 1369 presentations due to self harm were made by 1,043 individuals. One in four attendances was a repeat attendance.
- Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry had a total of 925 attendances – 2% of the A&E attendances. Tyrone County Hospital in Omagh had 231 cases 1% of their A&E attendances and the Erne Hospital in Enniskillen had 213 attendances – 1% of A&E attendances.
- Compared with the Republic of Ireland as whole, incidence rates in the WHSSB are double at 471 per 100,000 of population (Republic of Ireland rates are 236 per 100k of population);
- Alcohol, although rare as a main form of self harm, featured in as a major factor and was involved in 59% of all episodes (which is higher than the Republic of Ireland figure of alcohol involvement in 41% of episodes);
- Drug overdose was the most common form of self-harm (72% of cases) followed by cutting which accounts for 17% of cases;
- The highest rates of self harm were among 20 to 24 year old men and women with secondary peak for women aged 35 to 44;
- The weekends saw the highest number of cases;
- The pattern of presentation over the course of a day was influenced by whether alcohol was involved and showed a peak in rates of presentation from 11:00pm to 4am;
- The incidence of self harm amongst people living within the Derry City Council area was 31% higher than in the WHSSB area as a whole;
- Derry City Council rates were compared with those of five cities in Republic of Ireland, and were found to be significantly higher than Dublin, Galway, Waterford and Cork, and slightly higher than Limerick.
A summary of the findings is available to download from: www.cawt.com
The full report will be presented to the Suicide Strategy Implementation Body on 15 September 2008.
5. NSRF based in the Republic of Ireland are publishing their 2006/2007 report on Deliberate Self-Harm today to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Awareness Day.
6. Media enquiries to 90520579 or out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
