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Self-harm hospital admissions among children 'at five-year high' | Self-harm hospital admissions among children 'at five-year high' |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The number of children being admitted to hospital in England for self-harm is at a five-year high, figures show. | The number of children being admitted to hospital in England for self-harm is at a five-year high, figures show. |
Admissions of girls aged 10-14 increased by almost 93% - from 3,090 in 2009/10 to 5,953 in 2013/14 - with a rise of 45% in boys, from 454 to 659. | Admissions of girls aged 10-14 increased by almost 93% - from 3,090 in 2009/10 to 5,953 in 2013/14 - with a rise of 45% in boys, from 454 to 659. |
Campaigners say the figures could be the tip of the iceberg and "huge numbers" of children - especially boys - were still "suffering in silence". | Campaigners say the figures could be the tip of the iceberg and "huge numbers" of children - especially boys - were still "suffering in silence". |
The government says £30m will be put into mental health care in A&E units. | The government says £30m will be put into mental health care in A&E units. |
Experts told the BBC that increases in admissions were partly due to a rise in young people self-harming, but also reflected better recording of data by hospitals. | Experts told the BBC that increases in admissions were partly due to a rise in young people self-harming, but also reflected better recording of data by hospitals. |
They said a cultural shift was needed in society to ensure teachers and parents were not afraid to address the topic of self-harm among boys. | They said a cultural shift was needed in society to ensure teachers and parents were not afraid to address the topic of self-harm among boys. |
'Unable to come forward' | 'Unable to come forward' |
They also said the figures represented the tip of the iceberg because boys often did not like to admit to self-harming because it was mostly perceived as a female behavioural problem. | They also said the figures represented the tip of the iceberg because boys often did not like to admit to self-harming because it was mostly perceived as a female behavioural problem. |
Boys were also more likely than girls to punch or hit themselves, which some hospitals may not categorise as self-harm, campaigners added. | Boys were also more likely than girls to punch or hit themselves, which some hospitals may not categorise as self-harm, campaigners added. |
The Health and Social Care Information Centre statistics showed 659 boys aged 10 to 14 were admitted to hospital in 2013/14, compared with 577 in 2012/13 and 454 in 2009/10. | |
Matthew Everett, 24, began self-harming when he was 11. He said that earlier this year he was cutting himself "every night". | Matthew Everett, 24, began self-harming when he was 11. He said that earlier this year he was cutting himself "every night". |
"Before I would go to bed I would cut myself and then I would go to sleep. Then, the next day, I would do the same just to get that same release to feel I was in control still," he said. | "Before I would go to bed I would cut myself and then I would go to sleep. Then, the next day, I would do the same just to get that same release to feel I was in control still," he said. |
Although figures for 10- to 14-year-old girls were much higher, Rachel Welch - project director of the website selfharm.co.uk - said society must not assume boys did not self-harm. | Although figures for 10- to 14-year-old girls were much higher, Rachel Welch - project director of the website selfharm.co.uk - said society must not assume boys did not self-harm. |
She said: "Because of the way society has constructed the image of self-harm, it makes it much easier for girls to come forward and ask for help. | She said: "Because of the way society has constructed the image of self-harm, it makes it much easier for girls to come forward and ask for help. |
"We've actually got a huge number of boys who are suffering in silence, unable to come forward and ask for help because they're struggling with something perceived to be something that only affects girls." | "We've actually got a huge number of boys who are suffering in silence, unable to come forward and ask for help because they're struggling with something perceived to be something that only affects girls." |
Ms Welch said self-harming had been a problem for a while in children, but that it was previously recognised as "bad or aggressive behaviour". | Ms Welch said self-harming had been a problem for a while in children, but that it was previously recognised as "bad or aggressive behaviour". |
She also believed children were likely to be influenced by what they saw on the internet and in the family home. | She also believed children were likely to be influenced by what they saw on the internet and in the family home. |
"There is some research that suggests children are more likely to engage in self-harm if they have witnessed it elsewhere," she said. | "There is some research that suggests children are more likely to engage in self-harm if they have witnessed it elsewhere," she said. |
"For example in older siblings, parents, friends or online - particularly if they perceive it to have had a positive outcome like getting more attention or care." | "For example in older siblings, parents, friends or online - particularly if they perceive it to have had a positive outcome like getting more attention or care." |
Case study: Kenlie's story | Case study: Kenlie's story |
Kenlie Youngman, 15, began self-harming two years ago. | Kenlie Youngman, 15, began self-harming two years ago. |
"I've never seen my biological father, so that's kind of one thing that made me want to self-harm, because it makes me think he didn't want me - he wouldn't accept me," he explained. | "I've never seen my biological father, so that's kind of one thing that made me want to self-harm, because it makes me think he didn't want me - he wouldn't accept me," he explained. |
"I was also badly bullied which also led to self-harm. | "I was also badly bullied which also led to self-harm. |
"When I felt really down I would self-harm. I was cutting myself... and the thoughts and things that would get me down would just be released from me. | "When I felt really down I would self-harm. I was cutting myself... and the thoughts and things that would get me down would just be released from me. |
"But you know, they're not [released in reality], because they could come back to you another day." | "But you know, they're not [released in reality], because they could come back to you another day." |
His mother Donna Youngman discovered his self-harming when she noticed marks on his arms. She said teenagers hurt themselves as "a cry for help". | His mother Donna Youngman discovered his self-harming when she noticed marks on his arms. She said teenagers hurt themselves as "a cry for help". |
Schools 'must do more' | Schools 'must do more' |
A World Health Organization (WHO) report due to be released in 2015 is expected to show the number of teenagers who have self-harmed has tripled over the last decade in England. | A World Health Organization (WHO) report due to be released in 2015 is expected to show the number of teenagers who have self-harmed has tripled over the last decade in England. |
Around 6,000 teenagers - some as young as 11 - were surveyed for the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children report. | Around 6,000 teenagers - some as young as 11 - were surveyed for the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children report. |
Of the 15-year-olds sampled, 22% said they had hurt themselves on purpose, while 43% said they self-harmed at least once a month. | Of the 15-year-olds sampled, 22% said they had hurt themselves on purpose, while 43% said they self-harmed at least once a month. |
Professor Keith Hawton, from the Centre for Suicide Research at Oxford University, wants schools to be bold by addressing the problem directly. | Professor Keith Hawton, from the Centre for Suicide Research at Oxford University, wants schools to be bold by addressing the problem directly. |
He said: "We've got to think prevention here as well - what more can be done through schools to try and reduce the levels of self-harm through psychological well-being programmes. | He said: "We've got to think prevention here as well - what more can be done through schools to try and reduce the levels of self-harm through psychological well-being programmes. |
"These are being tested," he said, "but I think this is really important. | "These are being tested," he said, "but I think this is really important. |
"[It is] about prevention and not just treatment after the event." | "[It is] about prevention and not just treatment after the event." |
As part of the Autumn Statement this month, the government announced it would invest more than £100m in mental healthcare for young people over five years, with the intention of making it easier for them to get specialist help in their community. | As part of the Autumn Statement this month, the government announced it would invest more than £100m in mental healthcare for young people over five years, with the intention of making it easier for them to get specialist help in their community. |
Care minister Norman Lamb told the BBC self-harm was a "sign of serious emotional distress and it is crucial that young people get the help they need," adding that he had created a taskforce to advise on improvements to care. | Care minister Norman Lamb told the BBC self-harm was a "sign of serious emotional distress and it is crucial that young people get the help they need," adding that he had created a taskforce to advise on improvements to care. |
Hear Sima Kotecha's full report on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, on Friday from 06:00-09:00 GMT - or catch up online. | Hear Sima Kotecha's full report on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, on Friday from 06:00-09:00 GMT - or catch up online. |