Their own worst enemy? Management and prevention of self-harm

1. Self-harm is both cause and effect in the wider context of abuse in the family. 2. There are four main areas of self-harm: self-inflicted injury, eating disorders, legal and illegal drug abuse. 3. Community nurses have a central role in caring for clients with conditions arising from self-harm. 4. The health education and promotion role of the community nurse is targeted at individuals, groups, families and society itself.