YORK has the highest rate of hospital admissions for self-harm among young people in Yorkshire and the Humber, according to figures.

And one charity is calling for action, claiming that hospital beds are “full of young people crying out for help” to deal with the pressures of modern life.

The number of 10 to 24-year-olds hospitalised due to self-harm jumped in 2014 and has remained well above the national average, with 631 youngsters in every 100,000 admitted last year according to Public Health England.

The average for England for 2016/17 was 404.6 young people admitted per 100,000, while for Yorkshire and the Humber that figure was 401.2 per 100,000.

An NSPCC spokesman said the numbers show how important it is for mental health support to be made available to young people.

The spokesman said: “Knowing hospital beds are full of young people crying out for help should be a real wake-up call to the fact that an increasing number are struggling to deal with the pressures and demands of modern-day life.”

Jon Stonehouse, director of children, education and communities at City of York Council, said improving mental health services for children, young people and mothers is a priority.

He added that mental health champions will be trained at secondary schools to support young people.

He said: “We recognise that there is always more to do to support young people’s mental health.”

John Barnard, project lead at the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in York said the team has had 1,008 referrals since September, of which 496 were young people with thoughts of harming themselves.

Mr Barnard said: “Many however were supported initially within their home environment, reducing accident and emergency attendance.

"It is our aim, through the service, to provide support for young people on an intensive basis and away from busy, accident and emergency departments, whilst also aiming to avoid unnecessary admissions to hospital.”

Carol Redmond, CAMHS head of service in York, said: “Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust are aware of the nationally increasing rates of self-harm in under 18s.

“Under the New Models of Care Pilot, established last year, we have been able to invest in a new service in York and Selby that builds upon the work of the existing nationally recognised services in Teesside and Durham.”

A spokesman for Vale of York CCG said the organisation will be working with partners to examine the figures with the aim of identifying the reasons behind the increase.

Ged Flynn, chief executive of national charity PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide, urged parents and teachers not to shy away from facing self-harm head on.

He said: “Self-harm can seem very scary and off limits to many parents and professionals but it should be taken seriously and not ignored.

“Whilst the reasons for self harming behaviours are varied, they can represent a significant suicide risk among many young people.”

If you are affected by self-harm or concerned for a young person call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.