Psychiatrists call for the removal of self-harm websites

The body is concerned by a growth in sites that appear to either promote or romanticise self-harming and is calling on internet service providers and website owners to remove such images or material.

Dr Margaret Murphy, chair of the Royal College's faculty of child and adolescent psychiatry, said: "We also call on them to ensure that any online content relating to self-harm is accompanied by information about relevant organisations that can offer advice and support."

The college has made the comments following an investigation by BBC Radio 1's Newsbeat, which found that the number of young people under 25 years old admitted to hospital with self-harm injuries had risen by more than 50 per cent over the past five years.

According to the investigation there were 2,727 admissions in the UK for self-harm with a sharp object in 2008/9, compared with 1,758 in 2004/5.

Dr Murphy added: "About one in 10 young people will self-harm at some point, and recent surveys have found that Britain has one of the highest rates of self-harm in Europe.

"Self-harm may also be associated with illnesses such as depression. Websites that appear to romanticise self-harm may stop young people from seeking help and instead promote self-harm as a solution to their problems."

The Royal College is also calling for the government to provide more accessible youth-focused mental health services and advice to parents who are concerned their child may be self-harming.