A review into the care received by a young woman with a history of depression and self-harming who was smothered by her father in a "mercy killing" has highlighted flaws in the system.

Sarah Lawson, 22, died in April 2000, three years after she began receiving help from Worthing Priority Care NHS Trust and other mental health providers. The review, commissioned by West Sussex Council and Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority, says her needs became "lost" and the Worthing community mental health team was "dysfunctional" at the time it dealt with Lawson in 1997-8.

For over a year, the care programme approach was not initiated. It also criticises GPs for failing to pass on vital background information to the CMHT, adding that professionals failed to "adequately assess and formulate the needs of family".

Meanwhile, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence this week published guidance on how to deal with self-harm after figures revealed the problem is reaching epidemic proportions with more than 170,000 seeking hospital treatment a year.