COVID-19 Pandemic Does Not Increase Suicide and Self-Harm Among Adolescents

Strategic Insights -

A large-scale study conducted on the Virtual Pediatric Systems (VPS) database and national public health dataset has found no significant increase in the number of suicide deaths and PICU admissions for self-harm among adolescents during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The study, published in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, analyzed data from 69 PICUs and found that while there was an increase in the ratio of self-harm PICU admissions to all-cause PICU admissions during the pandemic, the number of suicide deaths and PICU admissions for self-harm remained relatively constant.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study analyzed data from 69 PICUs and a national public health dataset spanning January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2021.
  • There were 10,239 suicide deaths and 7,692 PICU admissions for self-harm, including 5,414 admissions in the pre-pandemic period and 2,278 in the pandemic period.
  • Compared to the pre-pandemic period, there was no increase in the median number of suicide deaths or PICU admissions for self-harm during the pandemic.
  • The number of PICU admissions for self-harm increased by 17% during the pandemic, while all-cause PICU admissions decreased by 18%.
  • The study found a significant decrease in all-cause PICU admissions per quarter early in the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period.
  • The increased ratio of self-harm PICU admissions to all-cause PICU admissions may have contributed to the perception that more adolescents required critical care for mental health-related conditions early in the pandemic.

Statistics:

  • 10,239 suicide deaths
  • 7,692 PICU admissions for self-harm
  • 5,414 PICU admissions in the pre-pandemic period (Q1-2016 to Q1-2020)
  • 2,278 PICU admissions in the pandemic period (Q2-2020 to Q4-2021)
  • 17% increase in PICU admissions for self-harm during the pandemic
  • 18% decrease in all-cause PICU admissions during the pandemic
  • 1.59:1 ratio of self-harm PICU admissions to all-cause PICU admissions in the pre-pandemic period
  • 1.98:1 ratio of self-harm PICU admissions to all-cause PICU admissions during the pandemic

Sources:

  • "Suicide and Self-Harm in Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A U.S. Virtual Pediatric Systems, LLC, Database Study of PICU Admissions, 2016-2021" by Tyler R. Black et al., published in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, 2023.
  • NewsRx. University of British Columbia Reports Findings in COVID-19 (Suicide and Self-Harm in Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A U.S. Virtual Pediatric Systems, LLC, Database Study of PICU Admissions, 2016-2021). Pediatrics Week. October 28, 2023; p 5.