Disturbing self-harm statistics – Andrea Cairns from @AwareNI and Dr Philip McGarry discuss

May 24, 2016, 09:23 AM

Six thousand people went to emergency departments across Northern Ireland last year after they self-harmed.

The majority were young people, aged between 15 and 24. And records show that a number of people sought help on more than one occasion with over 8,000 incidents in 12 months.

The statistic is from the chief medical officer's annual report. We spoke to Michael McBride yesterday and he says intervention is needed. So how can that be done?

Dr Philip McGarry, consultant psychiatrist and former chair of the royal college of psychiatrists in Northern Ireland and Andrea cairns - education and training manager for mental health charity Aware discuss.