Self-harm, commonly defined as ‘doing things to oneself that are harmful, in a deliberate and usually hidden way’, is most often carried out through cutting the arms or legs, but can include burning, biting, hitting, hair pulling and taking overdoses. Paediatrician and TV personality Dr Ranj Singh believes that increasing societal pressure is to blame. He points to children feeling more anxiety from increasing pressure to grow up, as well as from bullying and family problems such as divorce, financial struggles, abuse and addiction. It is the presence of several pressures in a child’s life that causes them to feel unable to cope and to turn to self-harm.
Rachel Welch of selfharm.co.uk said: ‘Children’s workers can help by knowing those they work with and their patterns of behaviour well, and maintaining good relationships with parents and carers so that concerns can be flagged up at the earliest opportunity.’
