The COVID-19 pandemic raised concerns regarding increased suicide-related behaviours. This study compared characteristics and counts of Emergency Department (ED) presentations for self-harm at three Toronto hospitals during vs. prior to the pandemic's first year. While the number of self-harm presentations to these trauma centres did not increase during the early pandemic, their proportion of total presentations was increased. Intra-pandemic self-harm was associated with variables indicating medically severe injury, economic stressors, and being widowed, which may inform future suicide- and self-harm prevention strategies.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to rapid shifts from in-person to remote mental health care, but little was known about how Canadians were experiencing this transition. This national online survey of 332 mental health care users and 107 mental health care providers through the CAN-BIND Program aimed to understand experiences of remote care during COVID-19, including what worked and what didn't. Overall, the majority of users (59-63%) and providers (63%) were satisfied with remote care. Users reported greatest satisfaction with the convenience of remote care, while providers were most satisfied with speed of provision of care; all groups were least satisfied with therapeutic rapport. Use of a video-based platform was significantly associated with remote care satisfaction. Most users (55%) and providers (87%) said they would likely use remote care again after COVID-19. Recommendations for improving future use of remote care are discussed.