Surge in self-harm incidents linked to effects of recession

More than 48,000 people — some as young at 10 — were hospitalised over a seven-year period after deliberately harming themselves.

A study by the National Suicide Research Foundation, the department of epidemiology at UCC and HSE South claims to provide the first national data on the incidence of hospital-treated self-harm in the world.

Voluntary groups working in the area praised the research, but said the total number self-harming was much higher as most did not attend hospital afterwards.