Welcome to another week.
Although we’ve been made aware for some time that children’s mental health has become a serious problem in the UK, the latest self harm figures are shocking and show no signs of decreasing. The NSPCC says almost 19,000 children were admitted to hospital after harming themselves last year – that’s a 14% rise over three years.
Our question this week then, is just this: what do you think is causing the rise in the number of children self harming?
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Lack of (nearby) services, things getting worse globally, social media and cyber bullying (relentless), lack of support for children, social stigma in relation to mental health, endemic abuse by ‘authority figures’ or not being taken seriously/ dealt with properly, m.h. being a ‘Cinderella’ service and demand outstripping supply. Also the appaling representation of mental illness in films and Halloween costumes in particular.
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Thank you for your comments, Victoria they’re thought provoking.
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Probably the increase in numbers of kids being taken into care has something todo with it…………..
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On the 13 September RT News as in this link http://www.rt.com/uk/258133-antidepressants-unnecessary-for-many/ The amount of children in care who are also prescribed antidepressants with many kids in care who can or may die of these drugs…
Read More this information is on
http://www.childrenscreamingtobeheard.com
pills for the looked after children
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It would be good to have a detailed breakdown of those affected, being in care is just one statistic and IlI should imagine a high incident rate from those in care as their mental health has been compromised simply by taking them away from their familiy.
A recent study showed that mental health and relationships were the key factors that promote happiness and well being. Another showed that the happiest were aged between 65-75!
There are multiple reasons for why mental health issues start but when the problems first manifest intervention is too slow and rather that get to the root of the problem a plaster is put on in the form of a medical cosh to dull the senses. Symptoms are ignored in the hope that they disappear and only become an issue when the child resorts to self harm to block the pain they are experiencing and to be heard.
Early intervention is vital. Educational pressures put on children are harming kids so they need to be revised. Bullying is rife. Counselling for kids. Support is needed for families before and after a crisis happens. Stopping kids going into care. These are just some of the solutions I would suggest but they will be ignored, where’s the knife!
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some very relevant comments above.
it can be quite complicated and not so simple as just black & white.
there are so many factors that can trigger these problems.
increasing population bubble, unemployment, broken families when parents split up, parents in prison, peer pressure at school and bullying, kids in care, kids in Adoption isolated away from their birth family, poor resources to help children get through difficult times. many of the Services are so desensitized they simply dont put the effort in.
the truth is the UK is a complete failure on so many levels but the powers that be refuse to face up to the truth and do something about it.
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