Almost half of all 14-year-old children attracted to the same or both sexes are self-harming, a new report from the Children's Society has found.

A survey of 11,000 children found almost one in four 14-year-old girls (22 percent) and almost one in ten boys (nine percent) had injured themselves or damaged their own body.

Rates of self-harm were worst (46%) among those who were attracted to people of the same or both genders.

Causal factors

The NSPCC says common reasons for self-harming include:

  • Bullying
  • Emotional abuse
  • Depression
  • Pressure at school
  • Grieving
  • Having relationship problems with family or friends

The report indicates that one million teenagers have "seven or more serious problems in their lives".

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