Rising numbers of children and adolescents are deliberately overdosing on antidepressant and antipsychotic medications, Australian research shows.

Self-harm from poisoning has more than doubled in a decade among children as young as five, according to the detailed analysis calls to poisoning centres in NSW and Victoria.

Dr Rose Cairns said the findings could herald rising suicide rates among young people. Credit:Steven Siewert

The researchers also found a dramatic rise in antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs prescribed and dispensed to minors.

People born after 1997 are most at risk of self-harm poisonings, according to the study published in BMJ Open on Thursday. Girls were much more likely to overdose than males, at a rate of three to one.