The Self-Harm Matters Health Integration Team contributed to a technical briefing around self-harm produced by Bristol City Council’s Population Health Specialist Team this year.

A report by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities* found that the South West found that the South West has the second highest emergency admissions rate for intentional self-harm for adults in England and the highest rate of repeat emergency admissions for intentional self-harm nationally in children and young people.

The Council’s Population Health Specialist Team reviewed Emergency Department attendances and hospital admissions for self-harm across in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) over a four-year period between 2019-20 to 2022-23 using a linked population health dataset (where hospital data is linked to a range of other related health data to provide a contextual picture).

The analysis has provided new insights into self-harm across the system in BNSSG for emergency department attendances and hospital admissions. It has helped to develop an understanding of who is presenting for self-harm, including demographics and clinical characteristics, and a deeper understanding of how children and young people are interacting with the system. This is helping to shape partnership discussions and next steps in terms of addressing the needs and inequalities identified.

To request a copy of the technical briefing, contact Nia Reeves, Principal Public Health Intelligence Specialist – Population Health, Bristol City Council at nia.reeves@bristol.gov.uk

Read the full news item on the Bristol Health Partners webpages