Psychosocial assessments can help tackle hidden problem of self-harm

Experts have called on all children and young people who self-harm to be given a full psychosocial assessment to help address the “hidden problem” among mental health and behavioural conditions. Official statistics published last week highlighted that a significant number of hospital cases among young people have resulted from self-harm. Admissions following self-harm were particularly high among teenage girls, with 13,400 hospital cases among 15-19 year olds recorded in the last year alone. Self-harm is caused by a range of underlying factors, though mental health conditions such as depression are known to increase risk. Individuals who self-harm are also at increased risk of repeating such incidents and of suicide.