A new law has come into effect in Scotland today (31 January), making it a crime to encourage or assist another person to self-harm.

The offence can be committed online, in correspondence or publications, as well as in-person. The law also applies whether an individual goes on to injure themselves or not. Anyone found guilty can face up to five years in prison.

It’s hoped the law will act as a deterrent to people deliberately encouraging others to self-harm and can create a safer online environment, particularly for people who may be in distress and are looking for help on the internet.

Maree Todd, the mental wellbeing minister, said: “We welcome this new offence which criminalises people who encourage or assist another person to serious self-harm. It will help to make the internet a safer place for everyone.

“We believe this new law aligns with our ambitious approach on self-harm, which is laid out in our dedicated Self-harm Strategy and Action Plan.

“It demonstrates our ambition to improve support for people who self-harm – a critical part of which is ensuring people are protected from harmful communications.”

Neil Mathers, the executive director of Samaritans Scotland, also commented: “Samaritans Scotland welcomes new legislation to take action against those who encourage or assist another person to engage in serious self-harm.

“It is hugely important to keep people safe online and protected from dangerous content and those wishing to cause harm.

“This legislation should only apply to those who encourage self-harm in a deliberate and malicious way, and aims to deter them from targeting vulnerable people.

“The internet can provide advice, helpful information and supportive networks for people seeking help about self-harm. It is crucially important that people can access this support, while being kept safe from dangerous content and those wishing to cause harm.”

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The offence under the UK Government’s newly-introduced Online Safety Act was extended to Scotland through a legislative consent motion agreed in Scottish parliament in June last year.

The Self-harm Strategy and Action Plan was published jointly with COSLA, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, in November.