Pediatric hospital visits for self-harm in Canada experienced a significant increase during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research. A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) on Monday revealed higher-than-expected rates of emergency department visits and hospital admissions for self-harm among children and adolescents between March 2020 and June 2022. The study focused on nearly 1.3 million youth aged 10 to 17 years in Ontario.
The research found a notable rise in acute care visits for self-harm, particularly among young girls aged 10 to 13 years. The study authors attribute this increase to pandemic-related measures such as school closures, as well as other contributing factors. These factors include social isolation, disrupted routines, missed milestones, changes in learning environments, familial stress, insufficiently treated psychiatric conditions, substance misuse, and altered patterns of mental health service use.
Limited access to care due to staffing shortages in hospitals also likely had an impact on the mental health of young people, the researchers added. This ongoing demand for acute mental health services for self-harm among youth indicates the lasting effects of the pandemic and the continued undertreatment of mental distress in this population, despite the easing of pandemic restrictions.
Concerns about the mental health toll of the COVID-19 pandemic among the younger population in Canada have been growing. A report from Statistics Canada in May revealed that the prevalence of suicidal thoughts in 2021 was highest among young adults aged 18 to 24 years compared to other age groups. Suicide attempts among Canadian youth also surged in the early years of the pandemic.
To address these mental health concerns, the federal government has allocated $45 million over two years to develop national mental health service standards in collaboration with the provinces and territories. Former mental health minister Carolyn Bennett announced in February an investment of nearly $5 million in 25 research projects for mental health and substance use services for children, youth, and young adults.
The study authors stressed the importance of better access to mental health support services for children and adolescents in Canada, emphasizing the need for further research to understand the reasons behind the increase in self-harm among Canadian youth.
If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs help, there are resources available. In case of an emergency, please call 911 for immediate assistance. Crisis Services Canada’s toll-free helpline provides 24/7 support at 1-833-456-4566. Kids Help Phone offers a toll-free helpline at 1-800-668-6868 with 24/7 support for young people, as well as the Crisis Text Line, which can be reached by texting HOME to 686868. The toll-free Hope for Wellness helpline provides 24/7 support for Indigenous Peoples at 1-855-242-3310. Online chat services are also available. Trans Lifeline operates a toll-free peer support hotline for trans and questioning individuals at 1-877-330-6366. For a directory of support services in your area, visit the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention at suicideprevention.ca.
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