General Article A quarter of young men has self-harmed as a way of dealing with pressure and stress

Topic Selected: Self-harm and Suicide
This article is 7 years old. Click here to view the latest articles for this topic.

By Jackie Brook

Alarming numbers of 16–24-year-old men in the UK have revealed that they have intentionally hurt themselves (24%) or have considered it (22%), as a way of coping with a difficult situation or emotion, according to a YouGov survey commissioned by three leading youth charities.

Worryingly, the survey also disclosed that young men, when they feel under pressure or stress, would be likely to drink heavily (21%), punch walls (19%) and control their eating (16%) as ways to cope. Over-exercising (12%), pulling hair (11%) and taking illegal drugs (10%) have also been mentioned as ways of dealing with pressure or stress.

One young man, when asked to talk about the situation or emotion that first led to self-harm said: “I was overworking putting pressure on home and work life. Feeling overwhelmed with stress daily”

The Mix, selfharmUK and YoungMinds have joined forces to shed light on specific self-harm behaviours that young men engage in and have found that these are not alwa...

Would you like to see the rest of this article and all the other benefits that Issues Online can provide with?

Sign up now for an immediate no obligation FREE TRIAL and view the entire collection