Self-harm strategy and action plan 2023-2027: outcomes framework

Part 1: Introduction

In November 2023, the Scottish Government and COSLA published Scotland’s first dedicated Self-Harm Strategy and Action Plan (2023-27). The Strategy’s vision is for people who have self-harmed or are thinking of self-harming, to receive compassionate, recovery-focused support, without fear of stigma or discrimination.

Alongside publication of the Strategy and Action Plan, we published an illustrative outcomes framework, which outlined draft short-term and medium-term outcomes to achieving our vision. We had always intended to refine this draft outcomes framework, and are pleased to now publish the finalised version (Annex B). This has been informed by people with lived experience of self-harm, organisations who support them, and data and evidence experts, to whom we are extremely grateful.

We have developed these outcomes in order to:

• Convey the range and complexity of the work needed to achieve our vision.
• Ensure every action is linked to the strategy’s vision.
• Outline our understanding of how short-term actions will support change over the longer term.
• Provide an illustrative set of measures to assess progress and provide robust reports, at the 18 month mid-point review (Summer 2025) and at the end of the 3 year strategy (Winter 2026/2027).
• Ensure appropriate monitoring and evaluation data and information is readily available to inform our prioritisation and delivery approach, which will help us to understand the impact the strategy is having in delivering the vision.
• Enable reporting on progress on delivering the strategy and feeding into the strategic action 4.2^[1] which relates to supporting people who self-harm in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Delivery Plan.