NATIONAL SELF-HARM WORKING GROUP
1St April 2010
1PM - 3PM
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT,
ST ANDREW’S HOUSE,
EDINBURGH
Minutes
Present:
Emma Hogg (EH)
Geoff Huggins (GH)
Margo Fyfe (MF)
Steve Platt (SP)
Sandra De Munoz (SdM)
Christopher Ward (CW)
Merrick Pope (MP)
Monica Merson (MM)
Michael van Beinum (MvB)
Tom Reilly (minutes)
Apologies:
Nigel Henderson
1.
Welcome and Introductions
Geoff Huggins welcomed everyone to the meeting, new members were introduced
and apologies were noted.
2
Minutes of last meeting
Minutes of the last meeting were accepted by the group.
3.
Matters Arising
There were no matters arising.
4.
Purpose of the meeting
Geoff defined the purpose of the meeting was to complete part 1 of the Interim
Report and produce close to final draft to lead into part 2.
Timeline: May 14 2010 for completion with engagement meetings scheduled for
June 2010.
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The order of the meeting was changed from the agenda and proceeded as follows.
5.
Interim Report (EH)
EH outlined the report [DN: embed report here EH to supply copy] which was
described as a platform to progress education regarding Self Harm but it was
emphasised that this report did not contain all the answers to the many questions
anticipated from stakeholders.
Points of discussion
 Problem of engaging partners in Choose Life phase 1 was highlighted
 Pathways to self harm to be tailored to individual sectors. Local
Pathways for Action could be tailored for each school with agreement
from head teacher
 External stakeholders could prove difficult to engage
 Hospitals and schools needed to change current tactics to be effective
in self harm reduction
 Scottish Government to provide guidance and training through local
Link Worker acting as Expert. This group to draft guidance using
“Scotland’s Guide on Self Harm” as template
 A&E and Sick Children’s Hospital need guidance on identification of
“cluster” self harm (as in cluster suicidal behaviour)
 Generic flowchart could be developed which local sectors could adapt
 Curriculum for Excellence and National Guidelines for Child Protection
also discussed as learning aids for development of Self Harm guidance
ACTION: Guidance document to be drafted by group
6.
Guidance (MM)
Audit of Self Harm Training was circulated to the group and discussed at length
Discussion points included
 Better understanding of skills and knowledge could be shared to help
develop people
 Scope of report is to identify skill and knowledge gaps
 Improved data collection needed
 Data sources need to be extracted from general data available
 Data from admitted and psychologically assessed patients is good but
none from A&E
 Need to emphasise that reduction in self harm may lead to reduction in
suicidal behaviour
 Reduction in self harm linked to reduction in means and methods e.g.
alcohol and drugs
 Guidance document to be produced by next meeting
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
Research

Group to decide whether this document can be used
Brief
produced
from
last
meeting
and
circulated
ACTION: MM to produce guidance base document by next meeting
Group to make corporate decision on use of research brief
at next meeting.
7. Vignettes (CW)
Vignettes were discussed at length and group was happy with content and structure
but it was asked where these would sit within the report. It was commented that as
names were used within these vignettes that every effort should be employed to
assure that names were not identified with individual readers!
8. Wider Engagement (EH)
Circulated redraft was discussed at length [DN: EH to provide copy] and groups for
wider consultation identified and prioritised. Appropriate avenues and events
identified. A Media Coverage contact to be engaged. Existing projects and focus
groups in Scotland to be identified and contacted.
9.
Next Meeting
A doodle poll will be sent out to members to ascertain the most suitable date for the
next meeting.
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