Teenage Self Harm

June 26th, 2008

Gordon Moyes - Question without notice

Reverend the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes: I ask the Hon. Tony Kelly, on behalf of the Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health), the following questions without notice. Is the Minister aware of the problem of self-harm, which can include intentional cutting, burning, scolding, banging or scratching one’s own body, breaking bones, pulling hair out, or ingesting toxic substances, and which is a problem symptomatic of underlying mental and emotional distress?

Is the Minister aware of the recent study “Injury Among Young Australians” conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, which describes a 51 per cent increase in young women intentionally harming themselves—predominantly teenage girls aged 15 to 17 years—and also a 27 per cent increase among young males, who are turning to self-harm as a response to mental pain, and that young people living in very remote areas were hospitalised for intentional self-harm at twice the rate of young people living in cities? Will the Minister please indicate what specific measures are being taken?

The Hon. Tony Kelly: I thank the honourable member for his very well thought out and important question. I undertake to get a speedy response from the Minister concerned.

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