People injure themselves as a way of coping with difficult emotions

The national inquiry into self-harm says training is patchy and inadequate and official health advice for teachers and school nurses ignores the subject.

But while pupils did not want staff acting as counsellors, schools are the best place for other groups to get involved, the interim report says.

Many do not seek help because they fear raising the "taboo" subject, it found.

The inquiry says more training and information packs are vital to make sure those pupils who did contact schools got a supportive response.

Taking overdoses

Project Manager Dr Marcia Brophy said: "With education professionals under such pressure, external help is needed to support the one-in-10 teenagers in the UK who are hurting themselves."

The Mental Health Foundation estimates nearly half a million across the UK, self-harm - usually cutting or burning themselves, or taking overdoses - as a way of coping with emotional problems.

The inquiry, run by the Camelot Foundation and the Mental Health Foundation, warned last year there had been a disturbing increase in children who self-harm.