Nearly 30% of children with SEN in HK engage in self-harm

A survey has found that nearly 30% of children with special educational needs, or SEN, have engaged in self-harm.

Heep Hong Society, in collaboration with Hong Kong Baptist University, surveyed 100 families with children aged 6 to 18 who have SEN, such as speech impairment and autism spectrum disorder.

Among them, 29% of the children had exhibited self-harm behaviours, with the most common being hitiing or banging themselves, followed by biting, pinching or severly scartching themselves.

A scholar noted that when a child experience emotional volatility, parents should not immediately remove them from the scene or try to avoid the trigger.

Parents are advised to proactively seek support together with their children to reduce the risk of self-harming behaviours.