Stories of self-harm throw professionals

Professionals working with children often take the wrong tack in response to disclosures of selfharm, an inquiry has concluded.

Many teachers, GPs and accident and emergency staff were found to focus on children’s behaviour rather than the underlying causes.

The two-year national inquiry into self-harm and young people revealed that one in 15 young people in the UK has self-harmed, the highest rate in Europe.

The inquiry, run by the Mental Health Foundation and the Camelot Foundation, called on the government to develop an awareness-raising campaign to educate professionals, parents and young people about why young people self-harm.

Truth Hurts is available from www.selfharmuk.org

 

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