The Impact of Organisational and Client Factors in the Implementation of ‘Best Practice’ Procedures for Self Harming Youth

This presentation discussed a project whose aim was to enhance mental health care for people with deliberate self-harm presenting to mental health services, both in service response & specific clinical treatment. Several factors relating to client characteristics & organisational culture were found to affect the treatment offered to patients. These factors included the perceived importance of deliberate self-harm issues by service directors & team members, & patient failure to attend treatment. The findings have important implications for post-crisis care.