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Increasing rates of self-harm among children, adolescents and young adults: a 10-year national registry study 2007–2016

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Abstract

Purpose

Rates of hospital-treated self-harm are highest among young people. The current study examined trends in rates of self-harm among young people in Ireland over a 10-year period, as well as trends in self-harm methods.

Methods

Data from the National Self-Harm Registry Ireland on presentations to hospital emergency departments (EDs) following self-harm by those aged 10–24 years during the period 2007–2016 were included. We calculated annual self-harm rates per 100,000 by age, gender and method of self-harm. Poisson regression models were used to examine trends in rates of self-harm.

Results

The average person-based rate of self-harm among 10–24-year-olds was 318 per 100,000. Peak rates were observed among 15–19-year-old females (564 per 100,000) and 20–24-year-old males (448 per 100,000). Between 2007 and 2016, rates of self-harm increased by 22%, with increases most pronounced for females and those aged 10–14 years. There were marked increases in specific methods of self-harm, including those associated with high lethality.

Conclusions

The findings indicate that the age of onset of self-harm is decreasing. Increasing rates of self-harm, along with increases in highly lethal methods, indicate that targeted interventions in key transition stages for young people are warranted.

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Acknowledgements

The National Self-Harm Registry Ireland is funded by the Irish Health Service Executive’s National Office for Suicide Prevention.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Suicide Research Foundation, 4.28 Western Gateway Building, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Eve Griffin, Elaine McMahon, Paul Corcoran & Ella Arensman

  2. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    Fiona McNicholas

  3. School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Fiona McNicholas

  4. Lucena Clinic, Rathgar, Dublin 6, Ireland

    Fiona McNicholas

  5. School of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Paul Corcoran, Ivan J. Perry & Ella Arensman

Authors
  1. Eve Griffin
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  2. Elaine McMahon
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  3. Fiona McNicholas
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  4. Paul Corcoran
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  5. Ivan J. Perry
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  6. Ella Arensman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eve Griffin.

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None declared.

Ethics statement

The National Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine, Ireland granted ethical approval for the National Self-Harm Registry Ireland.

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Griffin, E., McMahon, E., McNicholas, F. et al. Increasing rates of self-harm among children, adolescents and young adults: a 10-year national registry study 2007–2016. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 53, 663–671 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-018-1522-1

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