The teenage girls who self-harm

UPWARDS of 85 per cent of young people found to be self-harming at Warrington are girls, according to a report to be presented to borough councillors.
A separate survey notes that 43 per cent of girls aged 14/15 surveyed in the town last year said they were unhappy with their appearance.
Taken together, the findings show a “clear and concerning context” the report adds.
The document has been prepared for director of families and wellbeing Steve Reddy in response to questions posed by the council’s Protecting the Most Vulnerable Policy Committee.
Nationally it is thought around 13 per cent of young people may try to self harm between the ages of 11-16.
Last year, figures were produced suggesting a 70 per cent increase in 10-14 year-olds attending A&E departments for self-harm related issues over the two previous years.
In Warrington a survey was carried out into the views and thoughts of 3,479 children aged 10-15 from 28 primary and 10 high schools.
The findings were mixed – but there some specific areas of concern associated with young women and body image, the large number of children who considered that some drugs were “safe if used properly” and a small number of 14-15 year-olds who had regular access to alcohol.
In March last year, the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service noted 114 young people involved with self-harming – of which 97 were girls.
In June, the school nursing team identified 26 young people in secondary schools – of which 24 were girls.
On average, of every 40 referrals for counselling, about 10 per cent featured self-injury in some form.
The report states: “Whilst actual presentations at hospital remain relatively low, there is need presenting locally in relation to self-injury/harm.
“Most notable is the strong presence of young women who appear to account for upwards of 85 per cent of all those that present.”
The report concludes there are no simply answers to the question of whether local service provision adequately meets identified need in relation to self-harm and substance abuse.
Evidence suggests there is no significant increase in need in relation to substance misuse. But on self-harming there is considerable anecdotal and some local data supporting the view that there is a rise in the number of children where it is an issue. There are no significant changes in the underlying causes of poor mental ealth, but self-harming appears more frequently – particularly for girls.
On a positive note, the report reveals that in the “unhappiness” survey, 69 per cent of 10-11 year-olds, 67 per cent of 12-13 year-olds and 57 per cent of 14-15 year-olds indicated they had nothing to be unhappy about at all.