Economic woes linked to increase in self-harm

A WORRYING increase in the numbers of people engaging in deliberate self-harm – young men in particular – has been strongly linked to the recession and the subsequent rise in unemployment and financial pressures.

The number of deliberate self-harm (DSH) cases presenting to Irish hospitals between 2007 and 2009 rose by 23 per cent in men and 13 per cent in women, from a total of 11,084 cases in 2007 to 11,966 in 2009, according to the latest figures from the National Registry of Deliberate Self-Harm. The greatest increases were in the 20-29 age group, for both men and women.

The largest increase in cases of DSH was between 2008 and 2009 as the recession heightened, corresponding with a significant increase in the national suicide figures. The most common forms of DSH in men and women were deliberate overdose and self-cutting.

Dr Ella Arensman, director of research at the National Suicide Research Foundation (NSRF) which compiles the registry, warned that the figures were only the tip of the iceberg as many people who engaged in DSH were never seen by the health services.

The figures show the number of male DSH patients recorded in Dublin city rose from 702 in 2007 to 808 in 2009, and from 164 in Cork city to 269 during the same period. Even in counties with fewer patients recorded, the rise is significant. In Leitrim, while there were nine reported incidences involving males in 2007, this rose to 22 by 2009, while in Mayo there was an overall rise for both men and women from 208 to 264.

Dr Arensman said that in areas with significantly increased DSH rates in men, there were indications of a strong link with the impact of the economic recession, for example a rise in unemployment in particular among young men in the building trade.

The increase in DSH in Ireland between 2007 and 2009 was paralleled by a significant increase in suicide, especially among young men, she said. An increasing rate of self-harm in men is likely to be paralleled by an increasing suicide rate.

“It’s clear that we are dealing with a very serious and challenging problem which requires a very intensive response. We can see that there are huge increases in self-harm in certain areas and we know that at the same time, suicide is increasing in many of these areas. We need to start implementing interventions that have been shown to be effective as a matter of urgency in those areas that are now coming up on the radar,” said Dr Arensman.

Recommended interventions include the early identification of people at risk of self-harm or suicide through awareness and skills training projects for professionals and volunteers working in healthcare and community-based services.

Other recommendations include the implementation of uniform procedures for assessment and aftercare of DSH patients and for a wider range of effective treatment programmes.