SWINDON self harm help group Spear has welcomed news that the first UK inquiry into the problem among young people is being held this month.
The Mental Health Foundation and Camelot Foundation will launch the inquiry at the House of Commons on March 30.
Spear, which stands for Self Preservation Encouraging Active Response, is based in Milton Road and has been running in the town for seven years. It now helps more than 200 people nationwide.
Founding director Sue Ozolins, 41, said: "This is very positive news. I hope it will raise awareness of self harm and signpost people to safe support groups."
Over the past decade, rates of self harm in the UK have increased and are now the highest in Europe.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, one in 10 teenagers deliberately self harms and more than 24,000 teenagers are admitted to hospital after deliberately harming themselves.
The most common method involves repeatedly cutting the skin.
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