Abstract
One of the reasons why self harm is important is because of its association with suicide with about 1% of people intentionally killing themselves in the year after a self harm attempt. However it is less widely acknowledged that there is an increased mortality from other causes such as ill health and accidents. Overall there is a mortality rate of about 10–15% five years after self harm-suicide accounts for less than half this increased rate. This paper consists of two parts. The first is a brief review of the literature from the last six years on mortality following self harm. The second presents data from two New Zealand studies which describe the services that people receive after they present to hospital with self harm. This data is based on DHB data and self report at three months follow-up. Most people receive few services. I argue that this is an inadequate response to a disorder with such a high mortality.
