Four children a week self harming in Northumberland

NHS Digital data shows there were around 230 admissions for self-harm or self-poisoning for children aged between nine to 17 at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in 2020-21.

This is lower than the 240 in 2019-20 but 210 of these were recorded between April and November last year – the first two-thirds of 2021-22.

Of the admissions last year around 205 were for self-poisoning and around 20 were for self-harm.

The figures are rounded to the nearest five.

The figures show there were 20,520 hospital admissions for self-harm or poisoning for youngsters aged nine to 17 recorded last year – up from 20,400 the year before, and the highest number since records began in 2007-08.

The NSPCC said the pandemic had been "extremely challenging" for young people – either for those isolated in abusive homes, or those adjusting to a different way of learning.

A spokeswoman said: “While children are incredibly resilient the pandemic has understandably taken a toll on their emotional wellbeing, which is why the NSPCC want to see the Government invest in an ambitious plan for children that includes more mental health support in both the classroom and the community.”

A Department for Health and Social Care spokeswoman said: “We are training a new dedicated mental health workforce for schools and colleges with mental health support teams to cover an estimated three million children and young people by 2023, and this will include support for pupils who are self-harming."