Suicide card support scheme

A NEW scheme aimed at helping to reduce levels of self-harm and suicide is being rolled out by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust.

The Card Before You Leave scheme, will mean that any patient being discharged from an inpatient, or from A&E, who needs future care from mental health teams, will now receive a card prior to discharge, giving details of contact numbers for support, and details of their follow-up care.

The scheme, which was initially launched in Australia, has been introduced into all hospitals in the Northern Trust. The scheme ensures that all those who attend A&E and express thoughts of self-harm or suicide or those patients discharged who require ongoing care from mental health teams, have the contact numbers, which will give them the level of support they need.