Commissioned by the NHS Executive, this report takes an in-depth look at how people in Wales seek help for self-harm across different healthcare settings – whether it’s visiting their GP, attending an Emergency Department, being admitted to a hospital, or attending an outpatient clinic. By analysing patterns from 2012 to 2021 and exploring the changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (2019-2020, 2020-2021), this report helps us understand who reaches out for support where, and how their needs are changing over time. We also examined how and where people seek healthcare to understand the demand on different services and the type of care they receive. Using Secure Anonymized Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank at Swansea University, this report provides clear, real-world insights. These findings are essential for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in building better strategies to prevent suicide and self-harm. Find out how these valuable insights can help improve support across Wales by reading the full report
