Self-harmers need more help

9:09am Friday 25th August 2006

Self-harming is far more widespread than previously thought, according to a study involving pupils in Oxfordshire.

The findings have been published in a book on deliberate self-harm and suicidal ideas in adolescents co-written by Prof Keith Hawton of Oxford University's Centre for Suicide Research.

More than 6,000 pupils were asked to fill in a questionnaire about suicidal thoughts, self-harm, depression, anxiety and self-esteem, in the largest study of self-harm among 15- and 16-year-olds in England.

The results showed that one in 10 teenage girls self-harm each year, and were four times more likely to do so than boys.

Prof Hawton said: "People are only just becoming aware of the problem. It is often very secretive, particularly self-cutting, and getting information out to those who want it is very important. Some people don't want help, but others are very troubled by it, and their families are often very troubled by it."

He added: "I don't think at the moment there are sufficient resources for this, but I hope things will develop."

Statistical evidence about self harming has previously been based on hospital treatments, with self-poisoning and attempted overdoses the most common form of self-harm.

But the 2000 and 2001 study of children at schools in Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Birmingham showed that self-cutting represented 64.5 per cent of self-harming incidents.

The survey also showed that only 13 per cent of self-harmers had ever visited a hospital, meaning hospital admittance figures represented just the tip of the iceberg.

The study's aim was to pinpoint the true extent of self-harming and to provide advice and guidance for how schools, doctors, and support groups should try to address it.

Prof Hawton said: "That is why we wrote the book. We need to highlight what can be done in schools to reduce the risk of youngsters self-harming and what teachers can do if they become aware of self-harming. There are guidelines for schools, which were developed in Oxford.

"There is also information for clinicians and advice for the media."

CASE STUDY

A former self-harmer has described how she used to regularly cut herself during her teenage years and into her mid-twenties.

The 39-year-old, who is now a social worker working in Oxfordshire, kept her self-harming secret by wearing long sleeved clothes and learned to cut herself in ways that would not be so dangerous as to need treatment.

She said: "I wouldn't go to the hospital. I used to use sterilised strips on myself.

"There were not many services then and I think there are better services now."

She added: "I think some people may have noticed I was doing it, but they didn't know how to deal with it."

* Sufferers can talk to their GPs who will be able to refer them to specialists.

* Oxfordshire Mind, also runs a crisis line. Call 01865 251152.

* There are also two national self-harm groups: the National Self-harm Network (NHSN) at www.nshn.co.uk and the Self Harm Alliance at www.selfharmalliance.org