Hundreds of primary schoolchildren treated at London A&Es after self-harming

More than 700 primary school age children were treated for self-harm in London casualty departments last year, data from the NSPCC reveals.

The charity found that “a growing number of teenagers” were hurting themselves but it was also “not uncommon for primary age children” to resort to it “as a method of coping”.

Data gathered through Freedom of Information requests to NHS trusts with an A&E showed there were 729 admissions in the capital for children of primary school age in 2015/16.

Consultant clinical psychologist Dr Nihara Krause said academic worries, cyberbullying and anxiety about not having enough social media “likes” were fuelling mental health issues in children as young as eight.

'App gave moment of peace with troubled son'

Jack was 10 years old when he first threatened to jump from a top floor window at his south London home.

His mother, Eva, was “going around in circles” trying to get long-term help from their GP and child mental health services, which have been hit by government cuts.

Eva, 42, a swimming coach and single mother, said: “I have had so many episodes of him taking a knife and also going to the top floor and hanging from the window saying he wanted to jump.

“I wanted to help him, but it was hard when he was being abusive and smashing things around the house, always talking about wanting to kill himself… He put on weight and was teased at school, so would arrive home miserable.”

The stress made Eva ill, leaving her with liver damage, skin problems and on antidepressants. She said she downloaded the app Calm Harm which can help but she still needs to find a long-term solution.

“It gave us a moment of peace, and an amicable moment together,” she said. “Doing these activities takes his mind off the thought of hurting himself and the self-harming has slowed down.” * Names have been changed

Dr Krause has developed a free app for young people in crisis, Calm Harm, which acts as an instant access to soothing activities to “manage the urge to self-harm”, and it has been downloaded nearly 30,000 times.

She said: “It’s mostly secondary school- and university-age young people, aged 11 to 20, but we’ve had downloads by children as young as eight or nine and their families.

"There’s an academic pressure to achieve, there’s much more competition and much greater evaluation, which they feel under strain to live up to. ”

Calm Harm, on iOS and Android, is a finalist in the AXA PPP Health Tech & You Awards.

It gives the choice of five and 15-minute activities, from comfort to distraction and breathing.

The NSPCC revealed that 18,788 under-18s were admitted to hospital or treated at A&Es for self-harm in 2015/16 in England and Wales.

Emma Saddleton, parents’ helpline manager at the charity YoungMinds, said: “If you are a parent whose child is self-harming, it can be difficult to know what to do — but don’t blame yourself, talk to your child about how they are feeling, reassure them that you love them, and look for support from your GP.”

An NSPCC spokeswoman said: “It’s vital that children and young people don’t feel ashamed about seeking help.

"If they don’t feel they can talk to a parent or carer, they can get free and confidential help and support from Childline at www.childline.org.uk or by calling 0800 1111.”

To help with trials of the app, email: enquiries@stem4.org.uk