Reducing the suicide rate is one of chief targets of Health of the nation, although consideration scepticism has been expressed about whether or not this can be achieved. We have reported that nearly a third of those supervised by the West Yorkshire Probation Service had a history of deliberate self harm (DSH). Comparing the known risk factors for DSH and suicide with the composition of those supervised by the Probation Service suggests this is a high-risk group that has not traditionally been well served by mental health services.