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	Oxford University research shows at least one in 10 adolescents harm themselves</p>
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	At least one in 10 young people self-harm and very little help is available to their families, according to new research by Oxford University.</p>
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	A team from the university&rsquo;s Centre for Suicide Research has launched a guide for parents and carers trying to cope with adolescent self harm.</p>
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	Researchers say 10 to 15 per cent of adolsecents in the UK harm themselves either through self injury or self-poisoning and that their parents and families often feel alone and isolated.</p>
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	&ldquo;They often do it to deal with bad feelings, feelings of depression, anger, dislike of themselves,&rdquo; said professor of psychiatry Keith Hawton. &ldquo;It may be done to show other people how bad the person is feeling or to get a sense of control over the person&rsquo;s life. It may be done for reducing tension. Sadly, it can be a suicidal act and the person actually wants to die.&rdquo;</p>
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	The team said parents of children who self harmed often did not know where to turn for help and support. So they developed a guide with information on topics such as understanding self-harm, managing injuries, sources of help and looking after parents&rsquo; own needs.</p>
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	&ldquo;We developed the guide based on current research on self-harm and on the interviews with parents. It contains quotes from them with advice for other parents as well as evidence-based information and links to sources of help,&rdquo; said research coordinator Dr Anne Ferrey.</p>
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	Prof Hawton added: &ldquo;We know that most young people will stop self-harming, perhaps in a few weeks, a few months and sometimes a few years. In a minority it will become part of a longer-term pattern of behaviour, and for some it may indicate longer-term emotional problems, but for the vast majority, self-harm will stop.&rdquo;</p>
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	<a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/guide-published-for-parents-whose-children-self-harm-1.2450281">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/guide-published-for-parents-whose-children-self-harm-1.2450281</a></p>
