Development of the JAPAN registry of self-harm and suicide attempt: Its prospects in emergency and critical care center nationwide

Abstract

Experience of self-harm or suicide attempt is an important single predictor associated with future suicide deaths. The need for a system for registering cases of self-harm and suicide attempts in medical institutions has been widely noted. The authors developed a nationwide registry system for self-harm and suicide attempts (JA-RSA), prototyped in 2021, and began registering cases at each collaborating institution in FY2022, requesting participation from emergency rooms nationwide. The JA-RSA is the first nationwide, continuous suicide attempt case registry in Japan, and targets patients who are transported to emergency rooms. JA-RSA is also expected to contribute to the study and evaluation of effective suicide prevention measures. As the registry progresses, it will become possible to identify risk factors leading to suicide and risks due to changes in social conditions. Currently, about 60 emergency and critical care centers are participating in JA-RSA, and in the future, JA-RSA aims to have about 300 centers nationwide participate in the program, which will be used to understand the actual situation of self-injury and suicide attempts and to take proactive measures against suicide.