Teenage hospital admissions relating to self harm (FOI)

​Request

A.

If it is possible would you be able to tell me the number of self harm cases in teenagers that the General Hospital has dealt with this year and last year.

B.

Or if you have noticed a rise in the number of self harm cases in teenagers over recent years.

C.

Finally, if cases of depression in teenagers has been a notable thing at all and if you think this has any link to exam pressure.

Response

A.

The previously published Freedom of Information response regarding self harm statistics can be found below.

Hospital admissions relating to self harm (FOI)

The Hospital and the Child and Mental Health Services (CAMHS) fall under the Health and Social Service department. 

CAMHS supports teenagers who self harm and have offered the following responses to your questions.

B.

Anecdotally, CAMHS reports an increase in the number young people who report self harm. 

However, this information has not previously been routinely collated and therefore cannot be evidenced by our recording systems.

C.

Again, diagnosis has not been routinely recorded in the past and neither have reported factors like exam pressure so the information system would not be able to provide any evidence for a causal link. 

However, anecdotally again, a number of young people cite exam pressure as a factor in their distress.