Apr 25 2008
Self harming tendency higher in girls
Apr 25: A survey conducted among the girls aged between 11 and 19 in the UK has found that one-third of the girls have made an attempt to harm themselves. Nearly half of the 800 young people considered as sample opined that they had indulged in self harming by cutting, punching or burning themselves. The survey is taken for a mental healthcare provider.
The main reason attributed for this is the depression level, which is found to be higher among girls, while in boys the rate is lower at 22 percent. On the backdrop of the survey mental health charities opined that the figures were worrying and better treatment is needed for the adolescents to give them a moral boost.
According to the survey among those self harmed 73% admitted to cutting, 48% to punching, 14% to burning and 10% to self-poisoning. While considering the reason feeling of depression, angry, relationship problem and being stressed leads the list, it amounts to 43 %, 17%, 10% and 10% respectively.
While commenting on this the consultant psychiatrist of Cheadle Royal Hospital, Dr David Kingsley who is also a mental healthcare advisor for the NHS and the man who commissioned the research said: “It is a matter of grave concern. A recent study has put forth three main reasons for this growing tendency that are family problems, problem with friends and problems at school.”
He also suggested that parents and teachers should give special care to those young people who are struggling emotionally, feeling low or showing tendency of being withdrawn. It is better to prevent it at the early stage rather than allowing it to develop as a life long illness.
