98 children aged 10-14 'killed themselves in past decade'

Updated

Nearly 100 children aged 10 to 14 killed themselves in the UK in the past decade, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Charities said the numbers are a "national scandal" and called for the taboo of talking about suicide to be broken down.

Figures published for the first time show that 98 children under 15 have killed themselves in the UK from 2005 to 2014. Of these, 59 were boys and 39 were girls.

Children under 10 are not recognised in suicide figures and therefore not included.

Ged Flynn, the chief executive of the Papyrus prevention of young suicide charity, told the Press Association: "We have 'hidden' the fact that children and young people die this way because it is so flipping painful for us.

"It is painful and toxic to think about it, so we hide it and hope it goes away. Today we can see it is not going away.

"It is a national scandal and we have to talk about it."

He said experts have known for some time that depression starts for some at an early age, and there are a "plethora of reasons" why children take their own lives.

But the issue threaded through all cases is that the children feel "trapped or ashamed" by whatever is driving their suicidal thoughts.

He said the onus should not always be on the suicidal person to have to seek help, and urged those worried about someone to simply ask them how they are.

Mr Flynn said: "We think by asking them we will cause the problem so we keep quiet about it. But by asking you release that head of steam and enable that person who is suicidal to talk about it."

:: For confidential support and advice contact the charity's helpline on 08000684141

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