Deliberate self-harm in rural Western Australia: results of an intervention study.

This study evaluates an intervention program in its first 2 years of operation in rural Western Australia. The program was effective in producing a systems change within the hospital by implementing a protocol of best practice and in improving the inter-sectoral liaison between community-based referrals and treatment agencies through professional and community education. The early indications suggest a reduction in the rate of hospital admissions for repeated suicide attempts for cases who were managed by the suicide intervention counsellor through a high-intervention approach.