Self Injury Awareness Day 2020

Sunday 1 March marks Self Injury Awareness Day. We’ve curated some of the most poignant statistics on self harm and its effect on society.

A Lancet Psychiatry study found that in 2014, 6% of people had self-harmed, up from 2% in 2000 ^[source]

The same study reported self-harm was biggest among women and girls aged 16 to 24. ^[source]

One in five girls and young women in England aged 16 to 24 have cut, burned or poisoned themselves ^[source]

The number of people getting no help for self-harming issues is about 50%. ^[source]

Between 2018-2019 6% of all Childline counselling sessions related to self-harm.^[source]

Deaths by suicide in UK rose by 11.8% in 2018 ^[source]; and the Samaritans believes reducing self-harm is key to suicide prevention.^[source]

Suicide risk is 30 times higher in young people who self-harm.^{[source]<s/up>}

In prison custody, self-harm incidents reached a new record high of 57,968 incidents in the 12 months to March 2019, up 24% from the previous 12 months.^[source]

The number of self-harm incidents in youth custody rose by 3% to 1,841 in the year to March.^[source]

There were 700 hospital admissions as a result of self-harm per 100,000 young people aged 15 to 17 years in 2017/18. This is higher than the rate in 2013/14 (657 admissions per 100,000).^[source]

If you are looking for organisations which offer support and advice on self harm, the following may be useful:

Samaritans – call 116 123 (open 24 hours a day), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit your local Samaritans branch
Mind – call 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 (9am to 6pm on weekdays)
Harmless – email info@harmless.org.uk
National Self Harm Network forums
YoungMinds Parents Helpline – call 0808 802 5544 (9.30am to 4pm on weekdays)