TEENS AT RISK

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have identified two subgroups of adolescents who self-harm, and have shown it is possible to predict those individuals at greatest risk almost a decade before they begin self-harming. This is an important breakthrough as the current approach is to wait until the problem escalates, rather than minimising difficulties before they start. While both groups were likely to experience sleep difficulties and low self-esteem at age 14, the first group showed a long history of poor mental health, as well as bullying before they self-harmed. In the second group, the key sign was greater willingness to take part in risk-taking behaviour and including feeling less secure with friends and family at age 14.