Community Navigation following Suicide-related A&E Attendance in North Central London

The NCL Suicide Prevention Programme is a partnership between the London Boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington, North London NHS Foundation Trust and West and North London Integrated Care Board. The programme has an overall aim to ‘Reduce the suicide rate across the NCL geography through population-based suicide prevention measures as well as programmes targeted to those at highest risk, through improved support to those who have self-harmed and improved support for people bereaved by suicide.’ Individuals who present to emergency departments for suicide-related behaviours have a high rate of repeat self-harm and death by suicide. Early engagement and therapeutic intervention soon after emergency department attendance is thought to be beneficial in reducing suicide-related behaviours.

London Borough of Barnet, on behalf of NCL Suicide Prevention Programme are seeking to commission service(s) to provide community navigation support for people who have presented to A&E with suicide-related behaviours.

Service Aims and Priorities

•To provide community navigation support for people who have presented to A&E with suicide-related behaviours after they have been discharged to the community.

•Suicide-related behaviours within this specification are defined as self-harm (with or without suicidal intent), attempted suicide, or a presentation of suicidal thoughts with no harm/injury.

•Community navigation is defined as a professional working with a person to identify community services or suitable alternatives that can support them with a variety of concerns relating to suicidal behaviours. Support could include mental health provision as well as offers addressing socioeconomic concerns for an individual.

•This is an opportunity for services offering community navigation support to develop their existing offer by building stronger connections with NHS crisis pathways and their readiness to support people with suicidal thoughts.