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Comparing times of self-harm presentations to hospital emergency departments in children, adolescents, young adults and adults: a national registry study 2007-2019.
McEvoy, David; Joyce, Mary; Mongan, David; Clarke, Mary; Codd, Mary.
Afiliação
  • McEvoy D; School of Population Health, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI), Beaux Lane House, Mercer Street Lower, Dublin 2, Ireland. davidmcevoy20@rcsi.com.
  • Joyce M; National Suicide Research Foundation (NSRF), University College Cork, Western Gateway Building, Cork, Ireland.
  • Mongan D; Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
  • Clarke M; School of Population Health, Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI), Beaux Lane House, Mercer Street Lower, Dublin 2, Ireland.
  • Codd M; Department of Psychiatry, Education and Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland.
BMC Psychiatry ; 24(1): 474, 2024 Jun 27.
Article em En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38937740
ABSTRACT

PURPOSE:

The few studies that have explored self-harm presentation times at hospital emergency departments (EDs) - an important factor that can determine if a patient receives a mental health assessment - primarily focus on adult samples. This study examined the times of self-harm presentations to EDs, self-harm methods used, mental health assessments, and admission data across different age-groups.

METHODS:

Using data from the National Self-Harm Registry Ireland over a 13-year timeframe (2007-2019), this study compared times, days, seasons, methods of self-harm, and admission data for children (8-12 years), adolescents (13-17 years), young adults (18-25 years) and adults (> 25 years).

RESULTS:

The majority of the 152,474 self-harm presentations (78.6%) for all ages occurred out-of-hours (outside the standard working hours or in-hours times of 0900-1700, Monday-Friday). The four hours before midnight had the highest proportions of self-harm presentations for adolescents (27.9%) and adults (23.1%), whereas the four hours after midnight had the highest proportion of self-harm presentations for young adults (22.9%). The 1600-midnight timeframe had highest proportion of self-harm presentations in children (52.3%). Higher proportions of patients received a mental health assessment in-hours compared to out-of-hours among young adults (78.2% vs. 73.3%) and adults (76.1% vs. 72.0%). Self-harm presentations were lowest during summer months in children and adolescents.

DISCUSSION:

Hospitals should ensure that adequate resources are available for individuals presenting with self-harm, especially in the case of overcrowded EDs, and protocols need to be designed for those presenting with self-harm due to intoxication. In line with national policy, protocols for patients presenting during out-of-hours should be designed that can incorporate services from allied health multidisciplinary teams, social work, addiction services and counselling organisations. Given the lower rates of self-harm during school holidays for children and adolescents, the school environment must be considered in the context of mental health and self-harm public health prevention interventions.
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Texto completo: 1 Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Sistema de Registros / Comportamento Autodestrutivo / Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência Idioma: En Ano de publicação: 2024 Tipo de documento: Article

Texto completo: 1 Base de dados: MEDLINE Assunto principal: Sistema de Registros / Comportamento Autodestrutivo / Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência Idioma: En Ano de publicação: 2024 Tipo de documento: Article