Troubled teens: Surge in suicidal thoughts

A COUNSELLING service for troubled teenagers has seen a “significant increase” in self-harming and suicidal thoughts.

Teen Counselling said nearly a fifth of the 248 new teenage clients it dealt with in 2009 had deliberately injured themselves.

“We continue to be concerned about the number of teenagers who are harming themselves, often by cutting and/or taking substances,” the agency’s 2009 annual report said.