Adolescent girls engaging in self-harm have increasingly been filling up clinics of child psychiatrists in the Czech Republic, leading to additional diagnoses such as anxiety or conduct disorder. According to doctors, the rise in numbers has been caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated isolation and contact restrictions. Psychiatrists are struggling to keep up with the demand for their services, and the state has yet to provide adequate support.

The trend of self-harm among young girls has been escalating over the past decade, with the number of hospitalized self-harming children increasing by approximately 50% between 2013 and 2019. However, many cases go unknown, and the number of people engaging in self-harm is much higher than the number of hospitalizations. Around 3,000 children are hospitalized each year for intentional self-harm in the country.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made the situation worse, with the loss of everyday life, more time spent at home, and the lack of social contacts leading to fear of the unknown and a lack of control over the situation, which is particularly challenging for adolescents. The pandemic has had a brutal effect on everyone, and young people’s mental health is no exception.

The state has yet to provide adequate support for the surge in cases of self-harm, and psychiatrists are struggling to meet the demand for their services. According to Tomas Havelka, the head of the children’s psychiatry department at the Havlíčkův Brod Hospital and chairman of the Coordination Committee of the Association of Children’s and Adolescent Psychiatry, the number of girls coming in for self-harm and emotionally unstable personality traits has significantly increased in recent years. It is crucial to address the underlying causes of self-harm and provide the necessary support to those who need it. The situation is a cause for concern and requires immediate attention.

Article by Prague Forum