Children as young as 12 presenting to mental health charity with thoughts of self-harm

Sarah Cullinan, director of Services at Jigsaw, said: 'Every day at Jigsaw we hear from more and more young people who are feeling isolated, fearful and anxious about the future. The fact that they often struggle to get the support they need and deserve only adds to their anxiety and distress.' Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

Children as young as 12 were among the 1,083 young people seen by Jigsaw who expressed a desire to hurt themselves, according to research looking at presentations over a seven-year period.

The study looked at the presentations of 9,673 young people to the countrywide mental health service, with issues including levels of psychological distress, age, and gender.