Keeping COVID out: a collaborative approach to COVID-19 is associated with a significant reduction in self-harm in young people in custody

Objective: To describe the collaboration between Youth Justice New South Wales (YJNSW) and Health Forensic Mental Network (JHFMHN) during early COVID-19 Response (CR) across six centres in NSW, reduced incidence of self-harm noted over this period. Methods: Narrative article with analysis incident data initial CR period March to May 2020, compared same 2019. Results: During (March 2020), there was a highly significant, four-fold reduction self-harming incidents recorded by both YJNSW JHFMHN equivalent time 2019 ( p < .00001). Conclusion: The greater than young people may relate ‘interagency response’, an increase positive interactions staff, staff people. improvements mental health will be further explored through standardised interviews staff.