Impact of the recent recession on self-harm: Longitudinal ecological and patient-level investigation from the Multicentre Study of Self-harm in England

•The recent global recession had an impact on suicide but there is little evidence regarding non-fatal self-harm.•This study shows that rates of self-harm in England rose following the onset of the recession but only where unemployment increased.•There were increases in problems related to self-harm, namely in relation to employment, finances and housing.•Such increases in problems were also found in those who were employed at the time of the self-harm.•The recent recession had a significant impact on self-harm in England.