22 May 2020
Published by Agenda, Often Overlooked explores how self-harm among young women is often linked to poverty and disadvantage.
This new research, undertaken by analysts at the National Centre of Social Research, is one of the first to focus on connections between poverty and non-suicidal self-harm in young women across England. It is based on new analysis of data from more than 20,000 people.
Findings:
- Young women (16–34) living in the most deprived households are five times more likely to self-harm, compared with those in the least.
- One in five women with severe money problems has self-harmed in the past year.
- Those seriously behind on payments or who have had utilities disconnected three times more likely to have self-harmed, than those who haven’t.
As a result of these findings, we’re calling for the conversation about young women’s mental health to be widened to include the impact poverty and disadvantage has on young women’s mental health.
