Teenagers at greater risk of self-harm

A psychiatrist has warned that mental health services are struggling to cope with a wave of troubled and suicidal teenagers, many seeking solace in social media because their parents are ill-equipped to help.

It comes as figures show more children and adolescents being treated at Princess Margaret Hospital for self-inflicted injuries. So far this year, 467 children and adolescents have been treated for self-harm at PMH's emergency department, compared with 418 about the same time last year and 365 cases for 2011 and 276 in 2010.

There has been a rise in the number of children seeking emergency treatment for behavioural disorders, now averaging 25 cases a week. There have been 1173 cases seen so far this year, up from 932 for all of 2010.

Caroline Zanetti, who worked part-time at PMH until recently, said the number of children seeking urgent psychiatric help was disturbing.

Now director of psychiatry at St John of God Raphael Centre Subiaco, which helps young children and mothers affected by anxiety or depression during pregnancy and after birth, she said children as young as eight had presented at PMH with suicidal behaviour.

WA had only eight inpatient beds for children with severe psychological problems, as well as 12 beds at the Bentley adolescent unit, and the beds were full almost all the time.

Dr Zanetti said many children had severe psychological disturbance and felt unable to function at school or home. "There are problems with social media because distress can get shared in such a rapid and emotive way, whereas before you might have just talked to one or two friends," she said.

"So young people are sharing quite intimate things in a very open way, and kids have different ways of managing difficult things they're sharing or receiving."

If you or someone else is in distress, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.