Project Overview
Under the Northern Ireland Suicide Strategy “Protect Life – A Shared Vision”, the Northern Ireland Registry of Self-Harm (NIRSH) was first piloted in the Western Health & Social Care Trust area in 2007. Building upon the success of this pilot project, the NIRSH was implemented across all five Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland.
This extended the Registry to all 12 acute hospitals with effect from 1st April 2012. Currently, with the Protect Life 2 (PL2) 2019 – 2024, there is a long-term strategy for reducing suicides and the incidence of self-harm in Northern Ireland.
The National Suicide Research Foundation provides statistical analysis, support and independent verification of data recorded by the NIRSH.
Project Aims
- To establish the extent and nature of hospital-presenting self-harm and suicidal ideation in Northern Ireland.
- To monitor trends and patterns over time and by area.
- To inform the PHA and the Department of Health about the development of healthcare services and the provision of supports.
- To help the progress of research and prevention on self-harm and suicidal ideation.
Team Members Involved
Dr Shelly Chakraborty, Dr Mary Joyce, Dr Paul Corcoran
Recent Publications
Risk of repetition and subsequent self-harm following presentation to hospital with suicidal ideation: a longitudinal registry study. Griffin, E., Kavalidou, K., Bonner, B., O’Hagan, D., Corcoran, P. (2020). EClinicalMedicine. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100378.