This is the second annual report from the National Parasuicide Registry. It is based primarily on data collected over the year 2002 on persons presenting to hospital with parasuicide (deliberate self-harm). Parasuicide data were collected from each health board region in the Republic of Ireland. There was complete coverage of the Midland, Mid-Western, North Eastern, North Western, South Eastern, Southern and Western Health Boards and partial coverage of the Eastern Regional Health Authority. In total, parasuicide data were collected for the full calendar year from 35 acute hospitals. Three acute hospitals were monitored for part of 2002, while there were no data collected from two general and one paediatric acute hospitals, all within the Eastern Regional Health Authority. Parasuicide data were also collected from all 16 Irish prisons and places of detention.