Suicidal Behavior in children and adolescents in psychiatric emergencies during the two states of alarm of COVID-19

Authors: Llorca-Bofí et al., 2022

“The number of young people seen in psychiatric emergencies increased during the chronic stage of the pandemic. They younger and without previous psychiatric contact”

The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown may have had an impact on mental health, especially among young people. This effect may be associated with increased suicide rates and psychiatric emergency room visits.

In a cross-sectional study, the reasons for psychiatric emergency care of young people at the University Hospital Santa María de Lleida (Spain), during the Covid-19 pandemic, were evaluated. Visits to psychiatric emergency departments and their characteristics were compared in patients under 18 years, before and after the pandemic, with special attention to the two states of alarm and suicidal behavior.

In the second state of alarm, visits of young patients increased by 83,5%. The characteristics of these visits also changed: patients were younger, had fewer psychiatric histories, and their living conditions changed, with an increase in those living with relatives.

On the other hand, in both states of alarm, an upward trend was found in the rates of suicidal behavior among young people, although it was not statistically significant. The risk factors associated with suicidal behaviour found in the study sample were the following: being a woman, living with relatives, and having a diagnosis of depression.

In short, pandemics may be related to the increase in suicide rates, so it is important to study the factors associated with suicidal behavior during the Covid-19 pandemic, to prevent and improve its impact on mental health of the youngest.

Reference to original study: Llorca-Bofí, V., Irigoyen-Otiñano, M., Sánchez-Cazalilla, M., Torterolo, G., Arenas-Pijoan, L., Buil-Reiné, E., ... & Puigdevall-Ruestes, M. (2022). Atención urgente y conducta suicida en población infanto-juvenil en un servicio de urgencias psiquiátricas de una provincia española durante los dos estados de alarma por COVID-19. Revista de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rpsm.2022.03.003