Deliberate self-poisoning: the need for a new approach.

New community-based preventive initiatives are required if a reduction in deliberate self-poisoning is to be achieved. Local epidemiological data can be used in a health education approach, directed at professionals who have the most contact with potential cases of deliberate self-poisoning and also to those people falling within identified high-risk groups. Such initiatives require defined outcome measures and a number are proposed. The implications for data collection on deliberate self-poisoning are discussed.