Presentations to NSW emergency departments with self-harm, suicidal ideation, or intentional poisoning, 2010-2014
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate population trends in presentations for mental health problems presenting to emergency departments (EDs) in New South Wales during 2010-2014, particularly patients presenting with suicidal ideation, self-harm, or intentional poisoning.
DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a retrospective, descriptive analysis of linked Emergency Department Data Collection registry data for presentations to NSW public hospital EDs over five calendar years, 2010-2014. Patients were included if they had presented to an ED and a mental health-related diagnosis was recorded as the principal diagnosis.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of mental health-related presentations to EDs by age group and calendar year, both overall and for the subgroups of self-harm, suicidal ideation and behaviour, and intentional poisoning presentations.
RESULTS: 331 493 mental health-related presentations to 115 NSW EDs during 2010-2014 were analysed. The presentation rate was highest for 15-19-year-old patients (2014: 2167 per 100 000 population), but had grown most rapidly for 10-14-year-old children (13.8% per year). The combined number of presentations for suicidal ideation, self-harm, or intentional poisoning increased in all age groups, other than those aged 0-9 years; the greatest increase was for the 10-19-year-old age group (27% per year).
CONCLUSIONS: The rate of mental health presentations to EDs increased significantly in NSW between 2010 and 2014, particularly presentations by…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence.
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