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Self-harm (assessment, management and preventing recurrence)

A Canadian clinical summary of self-harm (assessment, management and preventing recurrence), with source-attributed priorities and explicit jurisdiction boundaries.

JurisdictionCanada
Source check2026-08-20
Clinical reviewiatroX editorial team 路 Clinical editorial review 路 reviewed 2026-08-20 路 due 2027-08-20
AudienceHealthcare professionals practising in Canada
This is an iatroX educational summary of named Canada sources, not an official guideline. It does not replace the complete source documents, local policy, specialist advice or clinical judgement. British Columbia is used as an explicit Canadian implementation example, not as a national rule. Verify the equivalent pathway, formulary and escalation route in the patient鈥檚 province or territory.

British Columbia source: bounded use

Suicide Risk Assessment supplies a Canadian implementation example for this summary. It must not be presented as the rule outside British Columbia.
sources for this section:ECBC suicide risk

Source-attributed clinical priorities

  • Address injuries and intoxication first, then assess current suicidal intent, access to lethal means, supports and capacity to remain safe.
  • Use a collaborative safety plan and appropriate urgent mental-health assessment rather than a risk score alone.
  • Arrange active follow-up and treat underlying mental illness, substance use and psychosocial drivers.
  • Explore the function and circumstances of self-harm without assuming that apparent low lethality means low future risk.
sources for this section:ECBC suicide risk

Practical assessment and management workflow

1
Treat wounds, overdose, intoxication and altered consciousness before psychosocial assessment.
2
Ask about intent, planning, current thoughts, prior attempts, access to means, supports and reasons for living.
3
Develop a collaborative safety plan that names warning signs, coping steps, contacts and means restriction.
4
Arrange active follow-up and communicate the plan to involved primary, mental-health and social supports with consent.
sources for this section:ECBC suicide risk

Safety, red flags and urgent escalation

  • Imminent intent, inability to collaborate on safety, severe intoxication or psychosis needs urgent supervised assessment.
  • Do not use a numeric risk scale as the sole basis for discharge.
  • Limit quantities of potentially lethal medicines and address firearms or other accessible means.
sources for this section:ECBC suicide risk

Confirm the local pathway before acting

British Columbia is used as an explicit Canadian implementation example, not as a national rule. Verify the equivalent pathway, formulary and escalation route in the patient鈥檚 province or territory.
sources for this section:ECBC suicide risk

Source and implementation boundary

Read this educational summary with the linked source, current Canadian product information where medicines are involved, and the applicable provincial or territorial pathway. Local formularies, reporting duties, referral routes and service availability can differ.
sources for this section:ECBC suicide risk

Source documents

Use the linked source documents for complete recommendations, evidence grading, exclusions and implementation detail.

  1. Emergency Care BCSuicide Risk AssessmentLast reviewed 2018-08-27; checked 2026-08-20 路 accessed 2026-08-20
    view source
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