A clinical psychologist says New Zealand adolescents self-harm even more than those overseas, after a new study showed about one in five 14-year-old girls in the UK did so.
Dougal Sutherland, speaking this morning to TVNZ 1's Breakfast programme, said while the UK rate is high at about 20 per cent, the same rate in New Zealand is about 30 per cent or more.
The UK data came from a Children's Society report published this year, which surveyed 11,000 children and found 22 per cent of the girls and nine per cent of the boys had hurt themselves intentionally in the previous year.
The report said among the most common reasons given were gender stereotypes and worries about looks.
People self-harm as "a way of people regulating how they're feeling", Dr Sutherland said.
"They get a really big emotion that they don't like feeling - it might be anger or sadness or shame or guilt - and they just think that they can't cope with this.
"Young people will tell you that when they do self harm, they experience, in the short term, a release of stress ...it moves the pain from the inside to the outside."
Dr Sutherland said such behaviour often stopped people from learning healthy ways of dealing with strong emotions.
He said the rates of self-harm in New Zealand are higher for girls, higher in the LGBT community, and typically took place more often during adolescence.
Parents or others who found someone who was self-harming were encouraged to stay calm - "don't freak out".
"If someone needs medical attention then make sure that they get that," Dr Sutherland said.
"To get to that point where they hurt themselves they must be feeling really, really upset and bad - so empathise with them feeling like that.
"Hook them up with some sort of support - that could be their GP, school counsellor, they could go to their local DHB child and adolescent mental health team - there's lots of resources around."
Where to get help:
Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
Lifeline: 0800 543 354
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7)
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7)
Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)
Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz
What's Up: online chat (7pm-10pm) or 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 children's helpline (1pm-10pm weekdays, 3pm-10pm weekends)
Kidsline (ages 5-18): 0800 543 754 (24/7)
Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
Healthline: 0800 611 116
Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
Safe to talk National Sexual Harm Helpline - 0800 044 334, www.safetotalk.nz
Victim Support National 24 Hour Helpline 0800 842 846, www.victimsupport.org.nz
Rape Crisis National 24 Hour Helpline 0800 883300
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
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