Increase in more lethal methods of self-harm in recession

People who self-harm have been using more lethal methods since the beginning of the recession, research shows.

While the level of self-harm continues to fall since then, the use of lethal methods has risen by more than half for women and by more than one third for men, according to the National Suicide Research Foundation.

In 2013, the age-standardised rate of individuals presenting to hospital following self-harm was 199 per 100,000, a 6% decrease on the rate in 2012.