In the US, the number of emergency department (ED) visits for suicide attempts and intentional self-harm increased from 1.43 million (0.6% of total ED visits) in 2011–2012 to 5.37 million (2.1% of total ED visits) in 2019–2020. In 2011-2012, what percentage of visits for suicide attempts or self-harm involved poisoning, and what was the percentage in 2019-2020?
In 2011-2012, the method of suicide attempt or intentional self-harm was poisoning in 52.6% of cases, and in 2019-2020 it was 67.9%
Bommersbach TJ, Olfson M, Rhee TG. National Trends in Emergency Department Visits for Suicide Attempts and Intentional Self-Harm. Am J Psychiatry. 2024 Aug 1;181(8):741-752. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20230397. Epub 2024 Jun 4. PMID: 38831705.
Contributed by Kristine Nanagas, MD