Intentional self-harm in hospital is regarded as an adverse event which may be preventable. Rates of intentional self-harm in hospital can be used as an indicator of safety for hospitals.
In 2009–10, there were about 1,300 separations for which intentional self-harm was recorded as occurring in a health service area, an overall rate of about 2 per 10,000 separations. This rate may underestimate intentional self-harm occurring in hospitals, as the place of occurrence was not reported for about 35% of separations with intentional self-harm recorded. However, it is also possible that this may be an overestimate, as it is not always possible to identify that intentional self-harm took place in a hospital, as distinct from another health service area.