Improving Care in Self-Harm HIT
The Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (HIT) is working to reduce the number of suicides in the Bristol area, by transforming understanding of self-harm across the health service and improving treatment and support for self-harm patients. They aim to ensure self-harm treatment and care is equitable, fully evidence based and non-stigmatising for all people who self-harm, and to reduce suicides in Bristol.
Self-harm is a growing problem for the NHS in Bristol and across the rest of the UK, with around 200,000 hospital emergency department cases reported nationally every year. The number of people who self-harm in Bristol alone is estimated at around 25,000. The condition is the highest predictor of suicide, with self-harm patients 35 times more likely to end their own lives.
Latest news and events
Improving Care in Self-Harm HIT 2020-21 review
20 July 2021
Drs Lucy Biddle, Becky Mars and Sandra Walker, Improving Care in Self-Harm (STITCH) HIT co-directors, reflect on 2020-21. The COVID-19 pandemic meant some planned STITCH HIT projects were delayed, but new opportunities also arose. The team is analysing...
HIT Conference goes virtual to address the impact of COVID-19 and wider health inequalities
20 October 2020
Bristol Health Partners held its annual Health Integration Team (HIT) Conference as an entirely virtual event this year because of the pandemic. The event, “COVID-19 Call to Action: What else can we achieve in health and social care?”, took place b...
New self-harm information and navigation service now open
5 October 2020
From Monday, 5 October 2020, Self Injury Support will be offering a self-harm information and navigation service open to anyone over 18 affected by self-harm, including those who self-harm, friends, family and people who work with people who self-harm. Th...
2019-20 Improving Care in Self-Harm (STITCH) HIT successes
4 May 2020
Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (STITCH HIT) Directors Drs Becky Mars, Lucy Biddle and Sandra Walker reflect on the team’s achievements in 2019-20. The HIT welcomed two new directors, Dr Becky Mars (University of Bristol) and Dr Sand...
Local charity Above & Beyond will continue to support three HITs
17 February 2020
Three of Bristol Health Partners (BHP) Health Integration Teams (HITs) will receive a further £30,000 in funding from Above & Beyond to help improve the health and quality of life of Bristol communities. In 2019, Above & Beyond secured independent...
DistrACT app scoops BMA Patient Information Award
11 September 2019
The distrACT app, developed in collaboration with the Bristol Health Partners' Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (STITCH HIT), has won the British Medical Association Patient Information Award for wellbeing.
Improving Care in Self-Harm HIT's successes in 2018-19
19 May 2019
Sue Dursley, Nik Munien and Lucy Biddell, Co-Directors of the Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (STITCH HIT) give an update on the HIT's activities in 2018-19.
Bristol developed self-harm support and suicide prevention app gains place on NHS Apps Library
12 February 2019
With young people’s mental health hitting the headlines, a Bristol-developed free app giving people easy, quick and discreet access to reliable information and advice about self-harm and suicidal thoughts is now included on the NHS Apps Library.
Health Integration Teams secure nearly £1.5 million in the first quarter of 2018/19
24 September 2018
Bristol Health Integration Teams (HITs) have secured £1,438,000 of funding in the first quarter of 2018/19. This impressive contribution to the local health and care system is the result of efforts from a range of HITs.
Health Integration Teams attract nearly £4.7 million in 2017-18
15 June 2018
Bristol Health Partners Health Integration Teams (HITs) have attracted nearly £4.7 million in funding to the local health system in 2017-18.
The Bristol Self-Harm Surveillance Register: the first ‘real time’ register in the UK
25 May 2018
Salena Williams, Senior Nurse in the Psychiatric Liaison team at the Bristol Royal Infirmary, writes about the creation and development of the Bristol Self-Harm Surveillance Register. Salena is also a Director of the Improving Care in Self-Harm Health In...
STITCH team presents to Parliamentary self-harm and suicide prevention group
19 April 2018
The Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (STITCH HIT) presented their work to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention on 13 March.
Another great year for the Improving Care in Self-Harm HIT
19 April 2018
Salena Williams and Sue Dursley, Co-Directors of the Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (STITCH HIT) give an update on the HIT's activities in 2017-18....
Health Education England's Star Awards win for STITCH HIT
8 March 2018
The Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (also known as STITCH) has scooped the Hearing the Patient Voice award as part of Health Education England’s Star Awards programme in the South West.
STITCH HIT shortlisted for Hearing the Patient Voice HEE award
2 February 2018
The Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (also known as STITCH) has been shortlisted in the Hearing the Patient Voice award as part of Health Education England’s Star Awards programme in the South West.
Suicide and self-harm prevention app launched in Bristol
4 December 2017
A new app to help people who are considering self-harm or having suicidal thoughts launched in Bristol on 30 November. The distrACT app is designed to give easy, quick and discreet access to general health information and advice about self-harm.
The winners of the Bristol Health and Care Awards 2017
31 October 2017
The city’s heroes of healthcare were recognised at a sparkling event hosted by the Bristol Post on Wednesday 25 October 2017.
Extending liaison psychiatry service at the Bristol Royal Infirmary improves care and reduces costs for self-harm patients
23 August 2017
Extending the operating hours of the liaison psychiatry service at the Bristol Royal Infirmary’s (BRI) Emergency Department has led to improved care and outcomes for patients who have self-harmed, NIHR-funded research has found.
Improving Care in Self-Harm HIT's successes in 2016-17
9 May 2017
Salena Williams and Sue Dursley, Co- Directors of the Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (STITCH HIT) give an update on the HIT's activities in 2016-17. STITCH HIT is working to reduce the number of suicides in the Bristol area.
NHS England pledges £750k to Bristol Royal Infirmary for 24 hour psychiatric liaison service
5 April 2017
NHS England has awarded University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust £750k to extend psychiatric liaison services in the emergency department at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. This means they will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Two Health Integration Teams responsible for £340,000 savings annually
28 March 2017
Two Health Integration Teams (HITs), Bristol Bones and Joints and STITCH, are responsible for £340,000 annual savings in the city’s two acute trusts, through changes to services and care pathways.
In numbers: STITCH HIT's successes
6 February 2017
The Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (STITCH HIT) have had some spectacular successes over the last few years. The team have been working hard to make improvements to take self-harm care towards parity of esteem with physical illness, i...
Mental Health HIT seminar proves a hit with commissioners
26 January 2017
Commissioners, researchers and people from voluntary organisations heard from Bristol Health Partners HITs seminar on 23 January. The theme of the seminar was 'Improving mental health care pathways across the STP footprint.
STITCH HIT's work highlighted in National Suicide Prevention Strategy progress report
10 January 2017
The work of the Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (STITCH HIT) has been recognised in the Department of Health's third National Suicide Prevention Strategy progress report.
Listen out for HITs on Bristol Community Radio
23 November 2016
Bristol Health Partners and our Health Integration Teams will be the focus of a special edition of Healthwatch's monthly Bristol Community Radio (BCFM) wellbeing show on 13 December.
STITCH work on zero suicide presented at international quality and safety forum
29 September 2016
The work of the Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (STITCH HIT) was presented in a poster at the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare conference in Singapore on 26-28 September.
Healthwatch Bristol publishes guide for public involvement in mental health services
9 September 2016
Healthwatch Bristol has published a guide for patients and the public, to help them find out how they can make their voices heard on local mental health services.
Health Integration Teams projects being taken forward by CLAHRC West
11 July 2016
Six projects relating to the work of Bristol Health Partners Health Integration Teams (HITs) are being taken forward by NIHR CLAHRC West from their 2016 project call.
Health Integration Team model evaluation paper published
1 July 2016
The results of NIHR CLAHRC West's preliminary evaluation of the ‘Health Integration Team’ model have been published in BMC Health Services Research.
Our 2015-16 annual review is out now
27 June 2016
Our 2015-16 annual review was launched at our annual Health Integration Team (HIT) conference on 17 June. The Bristol Health Partners annual review showcases the work of the partnership and includes updates from most of our 20 HITs and a round-up of the...
Improving Care in Self-Harm HIT review of 2015-16
12 May 2016
Salena Williams, Director of the Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (STITCH HIT) gives an update on the HIT's activities in 2015-16.
Health Integration Teams well represented in Bristol Health and Care Awards shortlist
4 March 2016
Bristol Health Partners Health Integration Teams (HITs) are well represented in the shortlist for the inaugural Bristol Health and Care Awards. HITs are a pioneering way of working on health issues in Bristol.
Bristol Health Partners at the NHS Innovation Expo
22 September 2015
Bristol Health Partners had a stand and ran a prestigious pop-up university session at this year's NHS Health and Care Innovation Expo, which took place in Manchester on 2-3 September.
Improving Care in Self-Harm HIT review of 2014-15
4 May 2015
Salena Williams, Director of the Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (STITCH HIT) gives an update on the HIT's activities in 2014-15.
NIHR CLAHRC West research projects announced
29 January 2015
The National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care West (NIHR CLAHRC West) has announced the first round of research projects that it will be working on in the first part of 2015.
GPC prescribing investigation following STITCH call
12 November 2014
The General Practitioners Committee (GPC) of the British Medical Association is undertaking an investigation into prescribing, following the Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (STITCH HIT) called for medicines that are lethal in overdose...
Improving Care in Self-Harm HIT review of 2013-14
22 August 2014
Salena Williams, Director of the Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (STITCH HIT), looks back at the team's work in 2013-14.
STITCH HIT's Salena Williams on BBC Radio Bristol
7 July 2014
Director of the Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (STITCH HIT), Salena Williams appeared on BBC Radio Bristol on Saturday 5 July, talking about the new extended Liaison Psychiatry service at the city's A&E departments.
Kerry McCarthy raises STITCH's work in Parliament
11 June 2014
Kerry McCarthy, MP for Bristol East, has raised STITCH HIT's recommendation to allow prescriptions to be dispensed in instalments for at risk patients, in Parliament.
STITCH HIT shortlisted for Patient Safety and Care Awards
7 May 2014
The Improving Care in Self-Harm Health Integration Team (STITCH HIT) has been shortlisted in the Mental Health category of the 2014 Patient Safety & Care Awards.
Focus on the Improving Care in Self-Harm (STITCH) HIT
12 March 2014
STITCH HIT is working to reduce the number of suicides in the Bristol area, by transforming understanding of self-harm across the health service and improving treatment and support for self-harm patients.
Project to investigate the internet's impact on suicide
18 February 2014
Researchers at the University of Bristol are joining forces with Samaritans to carry out groundbreaking research into the role the internet plays for those with suicidal thoughts.
Improving the A&E experience of self-harm patients
5 December 2013
The Improving Care in Self-Harm (STITCH) Health Integration Team held a ground-breaking 'shared voices' conference in October where Bristol Royal Infirmary Emergency Department (ED) staff and self-harm patients came together for the first time.
Self-Harm HIT's Salena Williams on Woman's Hour
29 November 2013
Improving Care in Self-Harm HIT Director Salena Williams appeared on Radio 4's Woman's Hour on 29 November, talking about her work on improving the experience of self-harm patients in A&E.
