Mental health: Self-harm viewed as cry for attention

See Me, an alliance of mental health organisations in Scotland, also found that more than half of 1,000 adults surveyed would not know how to help young self-harmers, and one in three thought they were manipulative.

The alliance is launching a television advert this week, aimed at reducing the stigma that surrounds self-harm. Linda Dunion, campaign director at See Me, said: "One in 10 teenagers in Scotland self-harms. The ad aims to break down the negative attitudes towards self-harmers."

Patrick Little, national development manager for young people's services at mental health charity Penumbra, said: "Young self-harmers have told us they have had poor experiences dealing with professionals including the police and GPs. Adults need to come up to speed as there is a lot of misunderstanding." Young people from Penumbra have responded to the Mental Health Foundation and Camelot Foundation's National Self-Harm Inquiry, which will release its final report later this month.