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Czech Republic

National seminar calls for better prevention of child self-harm in the Czech Republic

02-12-2011
Photo: iStockphoto

The Czech Minister of Health, Dr Leos Heger, and the Head of the WHO Country Office, Dr Alena Steflova opened a national seminar on child self-harm and violence prevention in Prague, Czech Republic, on 14 November 2011, which was attended by about 50 stakeholders from various sectors.

At the seminar, WHO/Europe introduced the issue of child injury and violence in the European Region, where nearly 18,000 children under 15 years of age die each year from injuries (16,000 due to accidental injury, 1,000 due to suicide and 800 due to interpersonal violence). Although the number of deaths from homicide and suicide is much lower than the number of deaths caused by accidental injury, the prevalence of child maltreatment is high. Reports suggest that 10 to 25% of children across Europe suffer some kind of maltreatment. Self-directed violence is the third leading cause of death in children aged 5-15 after road traffic injuries and drowning. The reduction of child injury and violence is a key priority for WHO/Europe.

Czech experts presented the findings of a national survey, conducted among more than 1000 adolescents, which showed the high prevalence of self-harm and how this was associated with adverse childhood experiences. Data from the national injury register were used to explain the challenges that self-harm and suicides pose for hospitals. Clinical data on risk and protective factors were provided by the child and adolescent psychiatry service of the Motol Faculty Hospital, a national reference centre and centre for injury prevention.

The seminar concluded with a declaration calling for better services for the prevention of child and adolescent self-harm and suicide, and for improved primary prevention through stronger nurturing relationships and the prevention of adverse childhood experiences.

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