Social media helps to push suicides among girls to a record high

A RECORD number of girls and young women took their own lives last year, figures suggest.

They showed that 65 females aged between five and 19 died from confirmed suicides or by injuries or poisoning for unknown reasons.

Some 13.3 per cent of deaths of those in the age group are considered to have been suicide – an increase of more than a third on 2016 and the highest level since figures were first compiled in 2001. Suicide is also thought to have been the most common cause of deaths in the same age group among boys, responsible for 10.4 per cent of deaths in 2017.

Dr Jon Goldin, of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: ‘These are deeply concerning figures which once again highlight the pressures facing young women in our society today. Girls are perhaps more susceptible than boys to the kind of pressures society increasingly places on them to look good, lead a glamorous lifestyle and so on.

‘These pressures are transmitted in various ways, including via social media, and can be detrimental to young people’s self esteem. Academic pressures, socio- economic pressures, family difficulties and pessimism about the future all also play a part.

‘These are really tragic figures, which should act as a wake-up call that many young people in our society are in great distress and need significantly more support.’

Young girls are said by some analysts to face unprecedented pressures to conform to idealised images of beauty on social platforms, as well as dealing with cyber bullying, sexual exploitation and grooming, all of which damage their mental health.

Alana Ryan, of the NSPCC, said: ‘Any death by suicide is a tragedy and as a society we must ensure support is readily available for young people suffering with mental health problems. Our own research showed that almost a third of children referred by schools for specialist mental health

‘This should act as a wake-up call’

support over the last four years were denied treatment.’

The Office for National Statistics, which released the figures, said that ‘for boys and girls aged five to 19 years, suicide and injury or poisoning of undetermined intent remained the leading cause of death in 2017, accounting for an increased proportion of deaths at this age, compared with the previous year’.

The second major cause of death in the most youthful age group was listed as brain tumours for girls and young women and transport accidents for boys and young men.

In England and Wales, a conclusion of suicide cannot be returned for children under the age of ten.