Over the last few years I have increasingly heard about students who are self-harming and according to NHS figures there has been a 20% rise in the number of 10 – 19 year olds admitted to hospital because of self-harming injuries….and presumably there are many more who aren’t admitted to hospital and still keeping it secret, who are also hurting themselves.
So why the increase and how to deal with it? Is it simply that children are in more severe psychological distress than ever before? Is this a global issue or more prevalent in the UK? Is it related to the level of alcohol our young people consume in any way? I know we do not yet understand the role social media plays in our children’s life, but the added pressure they’re under to be all things to all people can’t help those who are feeling vulnerable. Negative comments and copycat scenarios and the “it’s all about me” attitude, must surely be having an effect – especially on those who are feeling anxious and depressed already. Or is it because they are under more pressure at school and at home to perform in general?
What is being done to avoid the numbers rising any further? What is the recommended strategy for helping them? What are parents supposed to do? What are schools doing to prevent this happening and what facilities are there in the community to help the children and families? Are there any? Is this directly related to the decrease in funding for mental health services? Surely we need a combined response from all of the above?
Sorry, lots of questions – not many answers. But I assume that because the NHS spending on children’s mental health services in England has fallen by more than 6% in real terms since 2010, equivalent to nearly £50m, will mean that the facilities, that were bad enough already are now woefully inadequate.
