Rise in number of kids taken to A&E after self-harming as lack of help blasted

THE number of kids taken to A&E after self-harming has risen nearly a quarter in two years, figures show.

And the data shows girls hurting themselves deliberately outnumber boys three-to-one.

Between 2020 to 2022 the level of incidence recorded at the country’s acute hospital increased by 484, with 6,506 girls and 1,939 boys being treated.

There were 3,079 children under 18 taken to Emergency Departments for self-harming in 2022 – 2,358 girls and 721 boys.

This compared to 2,857 in 2021, consisting of 2,274 girls and 583 boys.

But the HSE said in 2020 there were 2,509 cases, made up of 1,874 girls and 635 boys.

There are no figures yet for 2023 or the first few months of this year.

Louth Sinn Fein TD Imelda Munster said the figures were “shocking” and a damning indictment on the mental health service providers across the country.

She fumed: “This issue is constantly flagged up to the Government and they have failed to get their act together in dealing with mental health.

“The fact that young people have no other option but to present themselves at A&E departments to get the help they need says it all.

“This data is a shameful stain on the Government.

“I am particularly concerned about the large number of girls who end up in hospital for self-harming, they are not getting the help they need.”

The HSE said it has a National Clinical Programme (NCP) for the assessment and management of patients presenting to Emergency Departments following self harm.

It said: “The NCP aims to ensure that all patients who present to the Emergency Departments following self harm or with suicidal ideation will recieve a prompt biopsychosocial assessment, their next of kin will receive support and advice on suicide prevention, the patient will be linked with the next appropriate care and both the patient and their general practitioner will recieve a written plan of care.

“GPs play a central role in the recognition of suicide related behaviours and in intervensons with patients.”

The HSE also said that 22 Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurses have been hired and are working across the country.