‘One in 15 Children Self-Harm’

A leading charity has warned that children’s mental health care is grossly underfunded after a child self-harm inquiry.

Leading representatives from Barnardo’s Cymru, based in Cardiff, have called for millions to be spent on mental health services to bring them up to the same standard as in England.

The plea follows a UK inquiry into self harm, which found one in 15 children and young adults had self- harmed.

The charity wants to see more money spent on counselling services, helplines and better training for teachers.

The charity’s Sally Jenkins said: ‘We hope the publication of the national inquiry report will put this issue in the spotlight again and that we can move forward in addressing the gross under-funding in Wales for child mental health.’