Applications have been coming in from all over Europe following the opening of a UK residential programme by a charity that helps young women with life controlling problems.

Mercy Ministries provides homes for young women aged 18-28 lending support and tackling the root causes of eating disorders and self-harming rather than medicating the symptoms.

"We currently have six girls from all over the UK living with us," says Kerry Slater, chief executive of Mercy Ministries UK. "Through a mix of biblical teaching, life skills training, occupational therapy and Christian counselling, the girls graduate different people.

"We also support and train youth workers and church pastors about the often misunderstood but increasingly common issues of eating disorders and self-harming among young women in our country."

One young woman believes she would not be alive now, had it not been for the programme. She says, "Before I came, it was literally the only thing I was holding onto in life. It's so amazing because it's given me a chance to live my life again. I appreciate life now and God has given me a purpose."

A recent national inquiry into self-harm, Truth Hurts, reported that one in 15 young people self harm and that the UK has the highest rate of self harm in Europe.