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Health bodies should take the lead on tackling self-harm by young people because it is a “significant public health issue”, according to the head of the national self-harm inquiry.

Catherine McLoughlin, who chaired the inquiry which produced the Truth Hurts report, told delegates at a session on improving services for young self-harmers that a cross-departmental strategy was needed because of the impact of self-harm on education and youth offending services.

Jude Sellen, a consultant for mental health charity YoungMinds, said professionals and young people who self-harmed often felt the same emotions when dealing with the subject and should acknowledge this. “They feel repulsed, alone, guilty,” she said.