The number of young people being treated in hospital for self-harm in Reading has risen by 120 per cent in two years, the latest figures show.

Self-harm admissions among people aged 10-24 have risen from 83 in 2014/15 to 182 in 2016/17, according to Public Health England statistics.

The regularity of incidents was below the national average from 2011-2015 but the latest numbers are 35 per cent above the national trend.

Research from various charities and organisations has shown that self-harm figures are rising throughout the UK.

A spokesman for Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: “There are many things we are doing to support young people, by linking with a local network of health, local authority, education and voluntary sector organisations.

“Together we are transforming the support and care available to children and young people with emotional wellbeing and mental health difficulties in Berkshire.

“Recent new health funding has been used locally to increase the availability of early help services in the community, including mental health support in schools and youth counselling.”

 One in eight people aged under 19 in England have a mental health disorder, according to NHS figures released last November.

Tom Madders, director of campaigns at YoungMinds, said: “The reasons behind self-harm can be complex, but we know from our research that young people today face a wide range of pressures.

“Difficult experiences in childhood, like growing up in poverty or experiencing abuse or neglect, can have a huge impact on mental health, but there are also new pressures that have emerged in recent years.

“The education system now places a greater emphasis than ever on exam results, while the rise of social media can make problems like bullying or body image issues more intense than they were in the past.

“At the moment, it’s far too difficult for children and young people to get mental health support before they reach crisis point.”

Health secretary Matt Hancock MP has urged social media companies to remove self-harm and suicide material from their sites or face legislation, after the death of Molly Russell, a 14-year-old-girl who had been viewing material on Instagram linked to depression, self-harm and suicide.