Care-System Children in England Deliberately Worsening Self-Harm to Stay in Care, Research Finds

Psychotherapist Abi Booth's research, reported August 27, 2026, found vulnerable children in England's care system deliberately worsen self-harm and suicide attempts to avoid discharge at 18 — a "cliff edge" of no further support. A government review linked 112 care-leaver deaths aged 18–24 in 2025 to the same support drop. Of 400,000 children in England's social care system, nearly 84,000 are in local authority care.