Neglected girls more likely to self-harm

Self-harm among young people is a significant and growing public health problem in the UK. It affects at least one in 15 young people and evidence suggests that rates of self-harm in the UK are higher than anywhere else in Europe with a traditionally higher rate in girls.

146 Londoners, aged between 16 and 30, whose mothers were vulnerable to major depression, were asked about any psychiatric disorders, childhood maltreatment, self-esteem, peer group relationships, school experience and their attachment style (how they deal with close relationships).

She found that 21 per cent had committed some form of self-harm and that this was associated with insecure attachments with their parents in childhood, which had continuted to affect them.

Young women who had this style were particuarly more affected and more likely to suffer problems "within the self" such as self-harm, anxiety and depression, rather than acting ‘outwardly’ with aggression and delinquency.
Ms Rusu explained; "The women’s early life experiences and specifically their childhoods, have resulted in a lack of coping strategies, through which to explore and resolve problems and emotional distress. This has then led to their use of self-harm as another way of controlling or coping with problems."

"The challenge for the future is educating more health practitioners to effectively use psychological management in young people with self-harm problems, to identify self-harm problems earlier and to offer young people appropriate psychological treatments in order to break out of the vicious circle. A better connection to NHS sources might also help to reduce the problem," concluded Ms Rusu.

PR1253