Work

Clinical characteristics and prevalence of adolescent self-harm before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: retrospective cross-sectional database study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Evidence indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in self-harm among adolescents; however, little is known about the trends in prevalence after the end of the pandemic. AIMS: This retrospective cross-sectional database study evaluates changes in the prevalence and clinical characteristics of self-harm among adolescents who sought attention from the emergency service of the largest children's psychiatric hospital in Mexico before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: = 3520) visiting the hospital's emergency psychiatric services over a period of 58 months. Using joinpoint regression, we evaluated temporal trends in self-harm prevalence. RESULTS: Affective disorders and hitting as a method of self-harm were more frequent during and after the pandemic in comparison with the pre-pandemic period. The prevalence of self-harm diminished from March 2019 to March 2023, a trend followed by an increase coinciding with the end of the pandemic and the return to normal activities. CONCLUSIONS: The significant increase in prevalence observed after the end of the pandemic suggests a long-term impact on mental health of adolescents. This underscores the need for monitoring this population during post-pandemic years to provide timely interventions.

Source: BJPsych Open

DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2025.4

Authors: Patricia Zavaleta-Ramírez, Marcos Rosetti, Lilia Albores-Gallo, Emmanuel Sarmiento-Hernández

Institutions: Hospital Psiquiatrico Infantil Juan N Navarro, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Language: English

Topic: Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,550