United Kingdom: Psychiatrists focus on young people
Key factors to self–harm revealed in journal’s survey
Unemployment is a stronger predictor of self–harm among younger people than parental social–class or gender, according to a study published in the Royal College of Psychiatrist's British Journal of Psychiatry.
The survey of 1,258 18 to 20 year–olds found that young people who were out of work were three times more likely to have self–harmed at some point in their lives, and six to seven times more likely to be self–harming currently, compared with those in work and full–time education.
Relief of anger was the most common reason for self–harm, followed by the want to forget about something, relief of anxiety and desire to commit suicide.
Those who were out of work were most likely to want to end their life, and did not consider mental health services helpful in stopping them self–harming.
Most students who self–harmed only did so for a short time to reduce anxiety related to academic pressures. Many of those who were self–harming were known to their GP, which suggests that family doctors might be a channel for targeted interventions.
For further information visit the Royal College website at: www.rcpsych.ac.uk.
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