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Encouraging or assisting serious self-harm

s.184Online Safety Act 2023

Doing a relevant act, such as sending a message or giving someone material, that is capable of encouraging or assisting another person's serious self-harm, intending to encourage or assist it.

Encouraging or assisting serious self-harm · Online Safety Act 2023, s.184Card 159 / 195

Points to prove

s.184(1)(a)Did a relevant act (see s.184(2))
s.184(1)(a)The act was capable of encouraging or assisting the serious self-harm of another person
s.184(1)(b)The act was intended to encourage or assist the serious self-harm of another person

Key definitions

Relevant act – s.184(2): communicating in person; sending, transmitting or publishing an electronic communication, or showing one to someone; publishing material by other means; sending, giving, showing or making available published material or correspondence; or sending, giving or making available a device holding electronic data.
Serious self-harm – s.184(3): self-harm amounting to grievous bodily harm within the meaning of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. Successive acts that together reach that level count.
Encouraging – s.184(11): includes threatening or otherwise putting pressure on someone to seriously self-harm.
Another person – the person does not have to be identified or known to the defendant (s.184(4)), and no self-harm has to occur (s.184(5)).
Sharing content – s.184(7): it does not matter who created the content, so forwarding a message or sharing a post can be enough. A course of conduct counts as an act (s.184(12)).

Good to know

In force from 31 January 2024. It is a free-standing offence in Part 10 of the Online Safety Act 2023, not inserted into another Act. It applies across the UK and to acts abroad by people habitually resident in the UK (s.185).
It cannot be charged as an attempt (s.1(4)(d) Criminal Attempts Act 1981).
Change not yet in force: ss.135 and 136 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026 will repeal s.184 and replace it with a wider offence covering any act capable of encouraging or assisting serious self-harm, with the same maximum penalties. On 2 November 2026 they had not been brought into force.
Encouraging or assisting suicide is a separate offence under s.2 of the Suicide Act 1961 (indictable only, maximum 14 years).

Legislation: Online Safety Act 2023, s.184 (opens legislation.gov.uk in a new tab)
Mode of trial: Either way
Maximum penalty: 5 years' imprisonment and/or a fine (on indictment); 12 months' imprisonment and/or a fine (summarily)
Last checked: 2 November 2026, against the current law on legislation.gov.uk

Encouraging or assisting serious self-harm: questions people ask

What are the points to prove for encouraging or assisting serious self-harm?

1. Did a relevant act (see s.184(2)) 2. The act was capable of encouraging or assisting the serious self-harm of another person 3. The act was intended to encourage or assist the serious self-harm of another person

What is the maximum sentence for encouraging or assisting serious self-harm?

5 years' imprisonment and/or a fine (on indictment); 12 months' imprisonment and/or a fine (summarily)

Is encouraging or assisting serious self-harm a summary, either-way or indictable offence?

Encouraging or assisting serious self-harm is an either-way offence: it can be tried in the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court.

What Act and section is encouraging or assisting serious self-harm?

Encouraging or assisting serious self-harm is an offence under the Online Safety Act 2023, s.184.

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