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	New figures show an alarming rise in the rates of adolescent self-harm.</p>
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	The figures from the National Suicide Research Foundation based on 2015 show there has been a 15% increase in male self-harm since 2007.</p>
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	St Patrick&#39;s Mental Health Services and Pieta House are urging parents, school-teachers and caregivers across Ireland to get educated on the subject of self-harm.</p>
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	St Patrick&#39;s CEO Paul Gilligan, says people who are experiencing mental health issues should try and reach out for help and advice.</p>
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	&quot;The briefest of interventions can stop a person from self-harming so we would take anybody who is either thinking about self-harming or has indeed self-harmed to talk to somebody - a friend, a trusted person or indeed to use the many helplines that are there.&quot;</p>
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	The 2017 Self-Harm Awareness Conference will be held in the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday March 1(Self-Injury Awareness Day) and will offer a mix of practical workshops and presentations relevant to teaching staff, community workers, parents and students.</p>
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	Keynote speaker, Ombudsman for Children, Niall Muldoon, said, &ldquo;I am delighted to be part of this important event which sets out to further our understanding of self-harm by offering practical advice and support to those working with young people in schools or within the community. I am also looking forward to outlining the importance of upholding and prioritising the rights of children and young people in this situation&rdquo;.</p>
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	For further information and to register to attend the Self-Harm Awareness Conference on March 1, visit www.stpatricks.ie/selfharm.</p>
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	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 7th February 2017)</p>
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	<a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/new-figures-show-alarming-rise-in-rates-of-adolescent-self-harm-775900.html">https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/new-figures-show-alarming-rise-in-rates-of-adolescent-self-harm-775900.html</a></p>
