Cases of young boys admitted to hospital for self harm have increased by 45 per cent since 2009/10

A warning was sounded over boys who self-harm yesterday, following a 45 per cent rise in cases over four years.

Boys as young as ten went to hospital for self-harming 659 times in 2013/14, 205 more than in 2009/10.

Admissions among girls increased even more sharply – but campaigners warned boys are more likely to suffer in silence, partly because they may see self-harm as a ‘female’ issue.

They said that ‘huge numbers’ of children, many of them boys, are failing to seek treatment, suggesting that the figures underestimate the true scale of the problem.

Self-harm includes cutting, burning and intentional self-poisoning.

Boys were also more likely than girls to punch or hit themselves, which hospitals may not categorise as self-harm, experts said.

The rapid rise in cases has been attributed to a ‘24/7 online culture’ as well as bullying, school stress, sexual pressure and family breakdown.

Figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) show boys aged between ten and 14 were admitted to hospital in England 659 times in 2013/14 – up from 454 in 2009/10. Cases among girls soared from 3,090 in 2009/10 to 5,955.

Rachel Welch, of website selfharm.co.uk, said: ‘We’ve actually got a huge number of boys who are suffering in silence, unable to come forward and ask for help because they’re struggling with something perceived to be something that only affects girls.’

She added: ‘There is some research that suggests children are more likely to engage in self-harm if they have witnessed it elsewhere. For example in older siblings, parents, friends or online – particularly if they perceive it to have had a positive outcome like getting more attention or care.’

Experts said bullying, stress, issues around body image and sexual pressure is causing self-harm

The rise in cases could partly reflect better record-keeping, but charities said evidence suggests the problem is increasing. YoungMinds said calls to its helpline for self-harming had ‘gone through the roof’. A spokesman said children were ‘under a lot of pressure in the modern age’.

Ministers said £30million is being invested in mental health at A&E.

Mental health charity Sane warned the injuries that children cause themselves are also increasing in severity. Its head, Marjorie Wallace, said all too often, young self-harmers are ‘treated unsympathetically’ in A&E because of a perception that they have ‘done it to themselves’.

A third are discharged without any follow-up appointment, she added.

The HSCIC said individuals who have gone to A&E many times could show up repeatedly in its figures.

For confidential support visit The Mind website