A study estimating national annual trends and characteristics of emergency department (ED) visits for suicide attempts and intentional self-harm in the United States from 2011 to 2020 found that while ED visits for these behaviors were most common among adolescents, adults ages 65 or older showed the largest increase, with an average annual percent change of 30.2%.

Overall, the weighted number of these ED visits  increased from 1.43 million, or 0.6% of total ED visits, in 2011–2012 to 5.37 million, or 2.1% of total ED  visits in 2019–2020, for an average annual percent change of 19.5%.

Drug-related diagnoses were the most common co-occurring diagnosis among suicide attempt and intentional self-harm visits. And, despite the rise in ED visits for suicide attempts and intentional self-harm, less than 16% of such visits included an evaluation by a mental health professional.

The authors conclude, "These trends underscore an urgent need to improve the continuum of mental health care for individuals with suicidal symptoms.”

To read the abstract of the study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, click here