INTENTIONAL self-poisoning or self-harm resulted in children being admitted to University Hospitals Dorset Trust hundreds of times last year, figures show.

Mental health charity YoungMinds said it is "deeply concerning" that hospital admissions for young people self-harming rose to record levels nationally amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Dorset Healthcare said the figures showed that the pandemic has "undoubtedly taken its toll" on the mental health of young people in the county.

NHS Digital data shows there were around 250 admissions for self-harm or self-poisoning for children aged nine to 17 at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust in 2020-21.

In 2019-20, there were around 255 hospitalisations.

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And at least 235 admissions were recorded between April and November last year – in the first two-thirds of 2021-22.

Admissions are rounded to the nearest five, and exact numbers are not available when there are fewer than eight cases a year, to protect patient identity.

Across England, at least 20,520 hospital admissions for self-harm or poisoning for youngsters aged nine to 17 were recorded last year - the highest number since records began in 2007-08.

YoungMinds said many young people find it hard to ask for help until they each a crisis point, and that even before the Covid-19 crisis began they struggled to access support.

Olly Parker, head of external affairs at the charity said: “It is deeply concerning to see that hospital admissions for self-harm admissions have risen to their highest since records began. 

“The reasons why young people self-harm are often complex, but we know that traumatic experiences at a young age – like bereavement, bullying or abuse – can have a huge impact."

Of the admissions last year at University Hospitals Dorset Trust, around 215 were for self-poisoning – excluding alcohol – and between 36 and 42 were for self-harm.

Katie Butler, Dorset HealthCare’s CAMHS Acute services manager, said: “The pandemic has been a challenging and disruptive time for children and young people, and its various impacts have undoubtedly taken a toll on their emotional wellbeing."

More information is available at www.camhsdorset.org. Young people in crisis can also call our 24/7 Connection phone line (0800 652 0190) or NHS 111 for urgent support.”