Suicide and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) are leading concerns in child and adolescent mental health, and evidence-based clinical guidance for management of these conditions is limited (1, 2). This poster describes the development of Suicide and Non-suicidal Self-injury in Children and Adolescents: Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guideline published in January 2026, and explores the unique challenges of producing evidence-based recommendations for the care and support of children and adolescents who experience suicide and NSSI.
Developing evidence-based guidelines is resource-intensive, requiring substantial time, workforce, and infrastructure to coordinate evidence reviews and stakeholder input. The development of this guideline spanned 18 months and followed established evidence-based frameworks (3), including systematic reviews, grading of evidence, and public consultation. The multidisciplinary Guideline Development Group involved experts in psychiatry, psychology, paediatrics, primary care, allied health and research, and people with lived and living experience to ensure evidence and expertise are integrated into useful, practical guidance.
During the development process four systematic evidence reviews were conducted revealing striking gaps in the evidence base to guide clinical practice in child and adolescent mental health, suicide, and NSSI (4). Due to this dearth in evidence, the development group was often required to draft recommendations where evidence base is limited, inconsistent, or emerging. Seven of the seventy-one recommendations in the guideline are considered evidence-based, directly informed by high quality evidence for practice. As is best practice in evidence-based guideline development, sixty-four recommendations are informed by clinical and lived experience due to a known lack of evidence.
Additional challenges stemmed from the complex nature of the topic itself. Stigma, ethical responsibility, consent, service availability, and legal and organisational frameworks were discussed at length when drafting guidance. These topics play a large role in the greater system of suicide prevention and were considered a crucial in implementation of these guidelines. The guidelines seek to reflect the best available evidence but also to provide practical recommendations for clinical practice that can be applied nationally.
This poster will highlight the methodology, challenges, and lessons learned from the guideline development process. It will also consider the broader implications for research, policy, and service delivery, with the goal of the consistency and quality of clinical care for children and adolescents experiencing suicidality and NSSI.