Self Harm

It is shocking to hear that according to Childline the number of young people reporting self-harm has increased by nearly 30% in the last year. Even more distressing is there have been calls from children as young as five years old to helplines because they are self-harming.
Self harm results in around 150 000 to casualty each year, and 10% of patients of medical wards are self harmers, although research by The National Enquiry shows that a large portion of young people never reach the medical attention of services or professionals.
Different forms of self harm include cutting (often with razorblades) on the arms, legs and abdomen, burning or scalding, inflicting blows, for example knocking one’s head against a wall, pulling out hair and scrubbing until the skin is broken, sometimes with bleach, biting, and even swallowing corrosive chemicals or batteries
It is more commonly a problem with girls although experts are finding a rapid rise in the problem with boys.
There are a number of reasons why people self harm, it could be because of anger or frustration about things they are having to deal with in their life or a strong emotion that they have to let out. Self harm is often seen as an escape and a way to release tension. Self harm can also be used as a way of control, by inflicting pain and injury on their bodies people feel as if they have regained a personal ownership over their lives.

By Graihagh Ball