Black Outlook

I recently read this report on the NTL website, news section, entitled;

Goths' black outlook on life

The number of attempted suicides and incidents of self-harm is higher among young Goths, according to a study. Goths - youngsters known for their love of black clothes, make-up and gloomy music - often cultivate a reputation of morbidity but the report says it may be more than an act. Researchers at the University of Glasgow surveyed 1,258 young people during their final year of primary school (aged 11) and again at ages 13, 15, and 19. They were asked about self harm and how they identified with 15 types of youth subculture, including being a Goth. They found that those who identified themselves as being a Goth had a far higher lifetime prevalence of self harm and attempted suicide, reported the British Medical Journal.

Even after taking into consideration social class, parental separation, smoking, alcohol use, or previous depression, being a Goth remained the "single strongest predictor" of whether a child would either self harm or try to commit suicide.

Hhmmm so they only studied 1,258 kids, hardly a cross section of the British populace is it? Of all the Goths I know, all are happy and jovial, it’s ironic that image is associated with self harming and leanings to more macabre pursuits. Of course Goths do self harm, I’m not disputing that but so can anyone self harm, there are some elements of the Goth culture that try things like blood letting, skin carving or their own crude tattoo’s – it’s a facet of the culture. As the report goes on to say ‘The study found youngsters tended to report being a self-harmer before they became a Goth slightly more than the other way’ which sort of backs my statement of the small element that do dabble with the above, probably to fit in with the dynamics of a group they may belong to, not because it’s a pre-requisite or mandatory. Most kids try smoking at some stage but this doesn’t mean they are going on to become full time smokers, it means they are trying to fit in with a crowd in order to gain status. Then it goes on to contradict itself by saying that mental health problems are on the increase in young people and the Goth subculture may be attractive to them.

Dr Michael van Beinum, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist and advisor to the study, said: "Mental health problems are common in young people and there is evidence that they are on the increase. For some young people with mental health problems, a Goth subculture may be attractive, as it may allow them to find a community within which it may be easier for their distress to be understood".

Basically, I love my psychology etc but stuff like this is well… bollocks isn’t it? Stuff like that report make me want to slash my wrists.......... shit, I'm a self harmer too !!!