Psychosocial assessment following self-harm: A clinician’s guide (November 2022)

Summary

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) defines psychosocial assessment following self-harm as ‘a comprehensive assessment including an evaluation of the person’s needs, safety considerations and vulnerabilities that is designed to identify those personal psychological and environmental (social) factors that might explain an act of self-harm’. NICE advises that all people who self-harm should be offered a psychosocial assessment at an early stage. Psychosocial assessment should include biological factors alongside psychological and socio-environmental aspects and is often termed ‘biopsychosocial assessment’.

The aim of this document from the Centre for Suicide Research is to provide clinicians with guidance to help them conduct a comprehensive psychosocial assessment. To support this, associated signposting to supporting evidence and useful reading is included.