Children are abandoning unhealthy habits, but self-harm is still a worry

Children in Ireland are smoking less, drinking less, and communicating with their parents more, according to the latest State of the Nation’s Children report.

However, many still struggle day to day, with more than one in 10 living in poverty and levels of self-harm high — particularly among girls.

The biennial report looks at a wide variety of aspects of children’s lives, including their physical health, educational experiences, emotional well-being, and the support structures they have among family and friends.