For a long time,teenage girlshave been a demographic particularly vulnerable to mental health issues like depression and self-harm. During our early teenage years, we juggle getting through GCSEs, finding our place in a friendship group and dealing with the fact our bodies are changing literally before our eyes. And then, of course, come the stresses of periods, boys and the fact our parents seem - as far as we're concerned - committed to ruining our lives.
It's a time when we're at our most impressionable, and now, aspects of the average teenage girl’s life unique to the modern day - like the rise of social media and online content around self-harming have been thrown into the mix.
A recent study from the British Medical Journal looked at figures from 2011-2014 and showed that there was a 68% increase in self-harm among 13- to 16-year-olds over the three-year period.
The research, published by academics from the University of Manchester, examined data from nearly 17,000 patients from over 600 GP practices and revealed that self-harm was higher among children and teenagers living in deprived areas. It also showed that the proportion of young people who managed to access care was much higher in more affluent areas.
Sigh.
The results of the study chime with data from the NHS which revealed an increase in hospital admissions following self-harm among girls under the age of 17.
WATCH NOW! The Debrief Investigates: The Contraceptive Pill And Mental Health
The results are a serious cause for concern. UK children's charity, the NSPCC described the figures as ‘heart-breaking’, and have said, ‘Self-harm can often be an expression of a deeper problem, which is why early intervention services to support these children are vital.’
Co-author of the study, Nav Kapur says, ‘One of the big messages here is that self-harm is complex – it is about schools, it is about families, it is about health professionals [and] teachers all working together trying to tackle the problem,’.
He added, “We need to take [this rise] seriously and do something about it,” and also pointed out that only half of the people who present to health services as a result of self-harm receive a proper assessment from a mental health professional.
Whether or not the steep rise in self-harm among teenage girls is partly down to the fact that they may be more likely to talk to a doctor than boys, and may be more likely to be asked about self-harm, it cannot simply come down to greater awareness.
What's particularly worrying is that those who self-harm are at a much greater risk of suicide, which is the second most common cause of death among under-25s worldwide.
The results of the study are really, really worrying, and a clear indicator of our mental health service's lack of resources. We need to make sure that students’ well-being doesn't get totally overshadowed by the focus on academic performance. And we need parents who are informed, so that they're able to spot the physical and emotional warning signs.
You may also be interested in:
Pro-Self Harm Hashtags Are On The Rise. But Regulating Against Them Isn’t Always The Right Answer
Imagine Having To Choose Between Your Mental Health And Your Fertility
Follow Millie on Twitter: @milliehurst_
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.