Figures on the number of young people who self-harm – or self-injure – are impossible to pin down accurately because the condition is not always reported. The available statistics are usually obtained from medical surveys and hospital admissions.
There are concerns that numbers are increasing as more children suffer anxiety and depression.
Experts have noticed that self-harm is more prevalent in boys when children are younger, but this is reversed after the age of 12 when girls start outnumbering boys. Hospital admissions for females are said to be considerably higher than for males.
In the year ending March 2022, there were more than 25,000 hospital admissions in England among 8–17-year-olds – more than a fifth higher than in the previous year.
The prevalence of self-harming means that there could be two pupils in every class in a secondary school who have harmed themselves.
Why do children and young people self-harm?
There are many reasons why some children harm themselves but typically they include:
- To manage emotional upset and reduce tension
- To alleviate emotional pain by causing physical pain
- To express emotions such as hurt, anger and frustration
- To regain control over situations where they might feel out of control
- To punish themselves or others
- A form of escape
- To identify with others who self-harm
What forms can self-harming take?
- Self-cutting
- Taking an overdose
- Swallowing toxic substances, or objects
- Hitting or bruising
- Self-strangulation with ligatures
- Burning
Which young people are vulnerable to self-harming?
- Individual: Children with a history of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, impulsive behaviour, drug or alcohol abuse, being on the autistic spectrum or having ADHD, or having an eating disorder
- Family: A history of family mental health problems, poor relationships within the family, or neglect can increase vulnerability
- Social: Young people who find peer relationships difficult, who have been bullied or have friends who self-harm, or have been influenced by websites and social media that encourage self-harm or suicide
What can schools do to support a child who self-harms?
Children who self-injure often conceal what they are doing, so it can be difficult to spot the signs, but teachers can help and support a self-harming pupil by:
- Being non-judgemental. Discuss your concerns with the child and find out what is troubling them, but don’t judge
- Not trying to deal with it on your own. Talk to your safeguarding team about how best to support the child, which might include making a plan about how you can collectively deal with the situation
- Considering a specialist referral. The young person may need to be referred to specialist help from their GP or child and adolescent mental health services (Camhs). This should be instigated with the involvement of parents
- Exploring emotions and feeling in lessons. This might be easier in primary schools, but can also be done in secondary, in relationships and sex education (RSE) lessons, where children can discuss their feelings safely and discover strategies for self-regulation
- Promoting positive relationships in school built on trust, security and feeling safe, with opportunities available for children and young people to open up and find support
*For further information go to: https://www.annafreud.org/resources/family-wellbeing/supporting-treatments/supporting-children-and-young-people-who-self-harm/ and https://www.nspcc.org.uk/advice-for-families/self-harm/
