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Self-harm cases often lead individuals to emergency departments. What happens next in terms of psychiatric care is crucial for their well-being and how this affects their risk of suicide and other causes of death. 

Norwegian psychologists used data from country-wide databases to create a national cohort of patients who sought treatment for non-fatal deliberate self-harm at emergency departments between 2008 and 2018.  

Results? Out of 43,000+ self-harming persons, staff referred about 16% to treatment (as they were at higher risk). However, 50% of all patients attended treatment. Of those attending treatment, 90% survived, those not attending, 77% survived.  These died mostly from causes other than suicide. It is puzzling as only 13% of all participants committed suicide yet 65% were in the treatment group and 35% from the non-treatment group.  Scientists did not randomly assign them to treatment. Thus, we can only guess why more treated persons died of suicide. Were they less cautious but sought help? Yet, more suicidal?  Let’s fund further research to find out and make treatment more effective. 

Listen!! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you or a loved one needs help! Call 988 the new National Suicide Prevention Crisis line.