Rise Amongst Teens Who Self-harm.
Research from the University of Manchester has shown the problem of self-harm in teens has increased by 68% in approximately three years in the UK. It's suggested that the rise of British girls aged 13-16 who self-harm can be associated with the increase of common mental disorders and the increased use of social media. Nav Kapur also said the rise "could also be a result of increasing stress and higher levels of psychological problems in young people".
55% of all self-harm cases are not referred to psychiatric services. Teens are able to get the help they need.
In today's society, self-harm is becoming worryingly common problem amongst teens-although advice and help doesn't seem to be increasing like it should. Many teens feel life is too hard to cope and adults, the people who are supposed to support them, are patronising saying our generation is 'too sensitive' which only worsens the problem. Teens feel like they cannot ask anyone for help with their problems out of fear they'll be told that their problems are not real problems, which makes the teen feel stupid for even thinking their very real problems are worth seeking help. Furthermore, although more teens are self-harming, there is still a stigma among teens that that particular individual is attention seeking- therefore many teen will hide their problem leading to the teen not seeking help at all.
Much like in the video above, I feel like the problem of self-harm is still taboo and the media avoids it. If this problem was publicised more, and help become mo0re obviously available- the problem wouldn't not be such an issue.
Social media doesn't exactly help the situation as teenagers are constantly being shown how they should look like, what they should eat, and how skinny they should be, all these pressures that teens are put under only intensifiers many teens hatred of themselves still they feel the need to drag a razor across their skin in order just to feel something else.
Reference
IVT. (2017). 'Rapid' rise in self-harming among girls aged 13 to 16, study finds. Available: http://www.itv.com/news/2017-10-19/rapid-rise-in-self-harming-among-girls-aged-13-to-16-study-finds/. Last accessed 29th Oct 2017.
Comments
Post a Comment