Developing the CATCH-HARMS assessment tool: a co-designed approach for identifying self-harm and suicidal behaviours in children

Background Self-harm and suicidal behaviours in children are growing public health issues, however, have received comparatively less attention and research than in other age groups. This gap highlights the need for effective ways to identify and assess these behaviours in children aged 12 years and under to support prevention and intervention efforts.Objective This study describes the co-design development of an innovative assessment tool - the Codesigned Assessment Tool of Child Self-Harm and Suicidal Behaviours (CATCH-HARMS) - designed to identify and assess self-harm and suicidal behaviours in children aged 12 years and under.Methods We co-designed an assessment tool that seeks to identify, assess and understand early indicators, experiences and related factors behind self-harm and suicidal behaviours in children. Adults in the group consisted of those with lived experience (LE) of self-harm/suicidal behaviour from their own childhood (