Nearly 30% of children with SEN in Hong Kong 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.