Reading List

A curated Reading List to support first-contact awareness of self-harm and suicide risk for reception, care navigation and call-handling staff in general practice.

The sources below cover compassionate response, urgent escalation, record-keeping and information sharing. Always follow local policy alongside national guidance.

NICE and NHS Sources

• NICE - Self-harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence
  NICE guideline covering compassionate care, assessment, management and follow-up after self-harm. Useful for understanding the principle that people should be treated with respect, dignity and without judgement.
  https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng225

• NICE - Self-harm recommendations
  Detailed recommendations including not using risk tools or scales to predict suicide or repetition of self-harm. Useful for reinforcing that reception staff should escalate rather than score risk.
  https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng225/chapter/Recommendations

• NHS - Self-harm
  Public NHS information on self-harm, signs and urgent help routes. Useful background on common forms of self-harm and why urgent help may be needed.
  https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/behaviours/self-harm/

• NHS - Where to get urgent help for mental health
  Public guidance on urgent mental health help and emergency routes. Useful for understanding why crisis wording should not be left in routine access systems.
  https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/

Suicide Prevention and Information Sharing

• GOV.UK - Consensus statement for information sharing and suicide prevention
  DHSC statement on sharing information within the legal framework where this may help prevent suicide. Useful for understanding when confidentiality should not prevent urgent escalation to reduce risk.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consensus-statement-for-information-sharing-and-suicide-prevention

• GOV.UK - Suicide prevention strategy for England: 2023 to 2028
  England strategy setting out suicide prevention priorities and actions. Useful context for system-level prevention and the importance of timely response.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/suicide-prevention-strategy-for-england-2023-to-2028

Four-Nations Sources

• Welsh Government - Suicide and self-harm prevention strategy
  Welsh strategy and supporting material for suicide prevention and self-harm.
  https://www.gov.wales/understanding-suicide-prevention-and-self-harm-strategy

• Scottish Government - Scotland's Self-Harm Strategy and Action Plan 2023 to 2027
  Scottish strategy on compassionate support, stigma reduction and self-harm prevention.
  https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-self-harm-strategy-action-plan-2023-27/

• NHS inform - Self-harm
  Scottish public information on self-harm, support and urgent help routes.
  https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/mental-health/self-harm/

• Department of Health Northern Ireland - Protect Life 2 Suicide Prevention Strategy
  Northern Ireland suicide prevention strategy across settings and age groups.
  https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/protect-life-2-suicide-prevention-strategy

Use this Reading List to inform local training, first-contact scripts, escalation procedures, information-sharing policies and staff debrief processes.