More Girls Hurting Themselves

Ivanhoe Newswire
Thursday, August 24, 2006; 12:00 AM

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Researchers in England have uncovered a problem in adolescent girls they say is far more serious than previously thought. One in every 10 teenage girls says they have inflicted self-harm. These findings come from a study reported to be the largest ever study of self-harm among kids age 15 to 16 in England.

Researchers surveyed more than 6,000 adolescents in England. The results reveal girls are four-times more likely to harm themselves than their male counterparts. Eleven percent of girls and 3 percent of boys say they have inflicted self-harm in the past year.

Previous studies have only involved teens who have harmed themselves and badly enough to require hospitalization. Researchers were able to look beyond this small group for this study.

Most of the time, the behavior comes as a response to short-term distress, but in other cases it can indicate mental health problems and even be a risk for suicide. Nearly 65 percent of the cases of self-harm are a result of cutting, while most others turn to self-poisoning.

The survey also showed that for both sexes, the self-harming behavior often went along with other risky behaviors including smoking, alcohol use and drug use. The behaviors were also associated with reports of being bullied and having been physically or sexually abused. Additionally, concerns about sexual orientation were a risk factor for self-harming. Most of the kids reported the act is impulsive and not something they think about for even more than an hour.

Now knowing how serious this problem is, researchers say school-based initiatives that encourage kids to seek help from family, friends or clinical services are especially important.

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SOURCE: University of Bath, Aug. 22, 2006