Are you being bullied, or is there a problem at home with a parent or step parent?

Perhaps you're nervous about exams or a family break up or bereavement.

Figures are rising

Many young people today experience overwhelming pressures and feel they have few places to turn to for help.

Too much pressure?

According to the children’s helpline charity, the number of young people disclosing self-harm to ChildLine has risen by almost 30% in the last year.

During 2003 / 2004, ChildLine counselled more than 4,000 young people who were self-harming (91% girls, 9% boys).

Hiding it

The number of young people calling ChildLine about self-harm has risen by 20% per year, over the last ten years.

As a new school term starts, many young people in the UK will continue to self-harm in secret, hiding it from family and friends.

New school term brings fresh anxieties

The National Inquiry has discovered (through 150 people with experience of self-harm) that the majority of young people never reach the attention of services or professionals.

Young people with experience of self-harm will not seek medical advice unless treatment is required.

What are the causes?

Children – some as young as 5 - are calling helplines because they are self-harming, warns a charity.

Reported triggers for self harm

- Physical /sexual abuse
- Bullying
- Bereavement
- Exam stress
- Family breakdown

A spokeswoman from the Samaritans said: "Self-harm is a way of dealing with emotional pain in a physical way - like screaming without opening your mouth."

We need to know more, to help more

A National Enquiry has been set up to try and find out why more and more young people are harming themselves as a way of dealing with emotional stress.

We need to find out more so we can help more

If you’re a young person who wants someone to talk to or need help in coping with self-harm problems, then there are lots of people out there just waiting to help you – discreetly, and quietly, whether you just want to talk about your problems or need medical help.

Use our list of websites with contact details on the left in Weblinks.

The National Enquiry needs to find out why more and more young people are harming themselves so that they can do more to help, and are asking for people to contact them with feedback or information.

They want to hear from young people, parents, carers, education officers, professionals, help organisations, in fact anyone who has experienced or knows someone who has experienced self harming so that they can help understand more about why it is happening and what can be done to help young people out of this nightmare.

If you think you can help, then log on to this Selfharm UK page, where you will find information about the National Enquiry and contact details.

Selfharm UK

If you're a young person who self harms, or know of someone who you think self harms, then do get in touch with one of the groups who are there waiting to help, even if you only want to talk to someone.