A 10-year retrospective survey of a total of 234 adult admissions to the Yorkshire Regional Burns unit during a period from March 1983 to March 1993 was carried out. Among these, 20 patients had self-inflicted burns, three were males and 17 were females. Amongst the females 14 were of Asian origin and three were of Caucasian origin. All the six Caucasian patients had a past history of psychiatric illness. The use of a flammable liquid seemed the most common mode of attempting suicide by burning.