Where Should I Go If I Need Treatment for Self-Harm? Expand Options for self-harm treatment are still available but they may have changed in the way you can access them. Your GP surgery and 111: If you don’t think you need to go to A&E you should contact your GP surgery or 111. All GP surgeries will have their own procedures about how to seek treatment, so you should call your own surgery for information on how to get a GP appointment or 111 if it is out of hours. A&E and Minor Injury Units: If you need to go to A&E the reception and triage may be different to normal. Many A&E departments are triaging people at the main door so that people who do not have symptoms of coronavirus are sent to a different part of the hospital to avoid infection from those who do. You may be sent to a different part of the hospital or a minor injuries unit. You may be seen by staff wearing Personal Protective Equipment which can look quite strange. This is for your protection and theirs, and they will still be able to give the same care and treatment. Even if you are attending hospital for self-harm treatment you should report any other symptoms that might be related to coronavirus such as a persistent cough, temperature or shortness of breath to staff as soon as you arrive.
Treatment Self Advocacy Resources Expand Self Injury Self Advocacy Sheet from Advocacy for You Self_Injury Treatment Personal Checklist Self Harm Report Card from National Self Harm Network
How can I clearly give others information about what do and don't want to happen? Expand It can be hard to express what will help and what will make things worse when seeking treatment for self-harm, especially if you are hearing voices, having intrusive thoughts, are dissociated or feeling strong and distressing emotions. It might be helpful to write down or note in your phone information you want to share about what you will find helpful and unhelpful. This list may include some things you might want to mention: How you are feeling now and how likely you are to self-harm again soon Where would be a safe place for you to wait for assessment and treatment Whether you want to talk to someone about your self-harm or not Whether you have a preference about being treated by a man or a women Whether you would like someone else to be contacted to support you
How can I clearly give others information about what has happened? Expand It can be hard to put things into words when seeking treatment for self-harm, especially if you are hearing voices, having intrusive thoughts, are dissociated or feeling strong and distressing emotions. It might be helpful to write down or note in your phone information you want to share or are likely to be asked about. This list may include some things you might want to mention: Type of Injury or Harm Location of injury Injury caused by Medication or poisonous substance you have taken Time of injury or of taking medication or other substances Any medications you usually take If you have had any alcohol or taken any other medications or street drugs