Changing rates of self-harm and mental disorders by sex in youths presenting to Ontario emergency departments: repeated cross-sectional study

Objective — To document the rates of intentional self-harm and mental disorders among youths aged 13 to 17 years visiting Ontario emergency departments (EDs) from 2003-2017.

Methods — This was a repeated cross-sectional observational design. Outcomes were rates of adolescents with (1) at least 1 self-harm ED visit and (2) a visit with a mental disorder code.

Results — Rates of youths with self-harm visits fell 32% from 2.6/1000 in 2003 to 1.8 in 2009 but rose 135% to 4.2 by 2017. The slope of the trend in self-harm visits changed from -0.18 youths/1000/year (confidence interval [CI], -0.24 to -0.13) during 2003 to 2009 to 0.31 youths/1000/year (CI, 0.27 to 0.35) during 2009 to 2017 (P < 0.001). Rates of youths with mental health visits rose from 11.7/1000 in 2003 to 13.5 in 2009 (15%) and to 24.1 (78%) by 2017. The slope of mental health visits changed from 0.22 youths/1000/year (CI, 0.02 to 0.42) during 2003 to 2009 to 1.84 youths/1000/year (CI, 1.38 to 2.30) in 2009 to 2017 (P < 0.001). Females were more likely to have self-harm (P < 0.001) and mental health visits (P < 0.001). Rates of increase after 2009 were greater for females for both self-harm (P < 0.001) and mental health (P < 0.001).

Conclusions — Rates of adolescents with self-harm and mental health ED visits have increased since 2009, with greater increases among females. Research is required on the determinants of adolescents' self-harm and mental health ED visits and how they can be addressed in that setting. Sufficient treatment resources must be supplied to address increased demands for services.