THE NUMBER OF deliberate self harm presentations to Irish hospitals has fallen.

The National Registry of Deliberate Self Harm Annual Report shows that in 2012 there were 12,010 deliberate self-harm cases, while in 2011, there were 12,216 self harm cases presented at hospital.

This is the second year in a row that self harm figures have fallen.

Numbers have fallen

The figures for the amount of people self harming has also dropped from 2011 levels. In 2011, 9,834 people were self harming, while in 2012, 9, 483 people were self harming in Ireland.

The gender break down of people self harming shows that there was an increase of 1 per cent in women self harming, while for men there was a decrease of 5 per cent, to 195 men.

2010 had the highest amount of people self harming in the Republic of Ireland with 9,887.

In 2012, the only significant changes in the rate of hospital-treated deliberate self-harm by age were among males aged 15-19 and females aged 35-39.

The male rate for those aged 15-19 fell by 14 per cent from 2011, from 430 to 368 per 100,000.

The female rate for those aged 35-39 fell by 13 per cent, from 279 to 243 per 100,000. Rates of self-harm in other age groups remained similar to 2011.

Samaritans is available for anyone in any type of distress. You can call them on 1850 60 90 90 in the Republic of Ireland or 08457 90 90 90 in NorthernIreland or by email at jo@samaritans.org.