The Suicide and Non-suicidal Self-injury in Children and Adolescents: Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline

Audience

This evidence-based clinical practice guideline is intended for use by a broad range of professionals who support or care for children and adolescents, including both health and non-health professionals.

Purpose of this guideline
The purpose of this guideline is to provide evidence-based guidance about the identification, assessment, and management of suicide and NSSI in children and adolescents (0-19 years) to ensure optimal and consistent care. The recommendations are informed by discussion of the research evidence among multidisciplinary health professionals, researchers, young people, and their caregivers with lived and living experience. This guideline does not include specific guidance about the treatment of repetitive stereotypical selfinjurious behaviour without deliberate intent to harm oneself (eg head-banging).

Intended users of this guideline
This evidence-based clinical practice guideline is intended for use by a broad range of professionals who support or care for children and adolescents, including both health and non-health professionals. Professionals with appropriate training and credentials can use this guideline to inform identification, assessment, management, and support for children, adolescents, and their support systems experiencing suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and NSSI within their scope of practice. Some recommendations are intended for professionals with specialised training, and these are indicated within the recommendation(s) or section.