December 18, 2020

Suicide Ideation and Attempts in a Pediatric Emergency Department Before and During COVID-19

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Mental Health and Personal Impact

Keywords (Tags): mental health personal impact

• Among youth ages 11-21 years, the rates of suicidal ideation and attempts were higher during some months of 2020 compared to 2019, according to analyses of positive suicide risk screens from a Texas pediatric emergency department. There was a significantly higher rate of suicidal ideation in March and July, and the odds of a suicide attempt were higher in 2020 in February (OR=1.58), March (OR=2.34), April (OR=1.75), and July (OR=1.77), compared to the same months in 2019. Months with significantly higher rates of suicide-related behaviors appeared to correspond to times when COVID-related stressors and community responses were heightened.

Hill et al. (Dec 16, 2020). Suicide Ideation and Attempts in a Pediatric Emergency Department Before and During COVID-19. Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-029280