Hundreds of emergency hospital admissions for self-harm injuries in Bedford last year

The numbers were released as social media sites announced they would clamp down on the sharing of self-harm images.

Public Health England figures show that 324 emergency admissions to hospitals in Bedford in 2017-18 were for intentional self-harm injuries.

It means that 194 cases were registered for every 100,000 people in the area – a higher ratio than the average for the East of England, where there were 168 per 100,000.

The number of cases last year in Bedford was a large decrease on 2016-17, when there were 374 admissions.

Most of the cases concerned female patients, with 199 admissions of women or girls for self-harm, 61% of the total number.

Recently, photo-sharing platform Instagram announced that it would be banning graphic images of self-harm on its site.

The social network’s head Adam Mosseri said the firm recognised it “needs to do more to protect the most vulnerable in our community”.

Across England, the number of self-harm cases has gradually declined since 2013-14. Last year, there were 185 admissions for every 100,000 people.

Stephen Buckley, from mental health charity Mind, said the decline in emergency admissions may not tell the whole story.

He said: “While the data shows a reduction in the number of people being given emergency treatment after self-harm, it doesn’t explain why this might be the case.

"Reasons for this might be that people are getting help in different ways when in crisis, or perhaps that a previous poor experience of treatment at A&E has discouraged them from returning.

"There are alternatives to A&E, such as crisis houses, but it’s vital to seek emergency care when needed – and equally vital that A&Es provide effective support.

"It’s also important to remember that the data doesn’t show how many people are self-harming but not receiving any treatment or help at all."

The PHE figures also include information on other factors related to mental health in Bedford.

Last year, 11% of patients registered with doctors in the area reported depression – up from 8% three years earlier. The average across England in 2017-18 was 10%.

Suicide rates in Bedford are also the same as the England average. Between 2015 and 2017, 42 people took their own lives, at a rate of 10 per 100,000.

The Samaritans operate a round-the-clock freephone service 365 days a year for people who want to talk in confidence. They can be contacted by phone on 116 123 or by visiting samaritans.org.