Social media '˜is fuelling a nation of deeply unhappy kids'

Data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) found 18,778 children aged 11 to 18 were admitted to hospital for self-harm in 2015/16.

This is up on the 16,416 in 2013/14 and represents a 14 per cent rise, the data for England and Wales shows.

Teenagers aged 13 to 17 were the most likely to end up in hospital for self-harm, including things such as cutting, overdosing on pills or burning themselves.

Figures from the Childline helpline run by the NSPCC also showed that it delivered 18,471 counselling sessions about self-harm last year – equivalent to 50 a day.

Peter Wanless, chief executive of the NSPCC, said: “A frightening number of children and teenagers are being driven to self-harm as a way of dealing with unresolved feelings, tensions and distress in their lives. Knowing hospital beds are full of young people crying out for help should be a real wake-up call to all those that care for the wellbeing of the younger generation.

“It is vital we confront the fact that an increasing number are struggling to deal with the pressures and demands of modern-day life, to such an extent they are inflicting terrible damage upon themselves.

“It is clear from the thousands of calls Childline receives that we have a nation of deeply unhappy children.

“We know this unhappiness is partly due to the constant pressure they feel, particularly from social media, to have the perfect life or attain a certain image which is often unrealistic.”

Childline president Dame Esther Rantzen, said: “It is deeply disturbing that so many children and young people are ending up in hospital because they are injuring themselves so seriously.

“Self-harming is at epidemic level among young people.”