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Youth Custody: Self-harm

Asked by Ben GoldsboroughLabourMinistry of JusticeTabled Answered 8 April 2025UIN 43672

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce incidence of self harm on the secure estate.

Answered by Sir Nicholas Dakin

We recognise that rates of self-harm across the estate are high, and we are taking action to address this.

We provide individualised support through our case management process for people assessed as at risk of self-harm. This approach places a strong emphasis on identifying individual risks, triggers and protective factors and having effective care plans in place to record, address and mitigate risks.

All new staff receive suicide and self-harm prevention and mental health awareness training, to increase skills in supporting at-risk prisoners.

We fund Samaritans to train prisoners to provide emotional support to other prisoners in crisis (the Listener Scheme).

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