suicidality

Self-Harm Presentations to Hospital Trauma Centre Emergency Departments during the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

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.

Alexithymia and self-harm: A review of nonsuicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts

In this literature review, consistent evidence was found for an association between alexithymia and suicidal ideation, and between alexithymia and non-suicidal self-injury — but weaker evidence linking alexithymia & suicide attempts. Findings have implications for suicide prevention and risk prediction, but further study is needed.

Suicide-related presentations of homeless individuals to an inner-city emergency department

This paper presents preliminary data from a retrospective chart review of suicide-related presentations to the St. Michael's Hospital Emergency Department (ED) over a two-year period. We sought to compare the demographics, clinical presentation, and discharge plans of individuals experiencing homelessness relative to housed individuals.

Examining suicide-related presentations to the emergency department

Although the Emergency Department (ED) is a frequent point of contact for individuals experiencing suicidality, there is limited research examining these ED presentations. This review synthesizes the literature on these presentations, with a focus on high-risk groups, screening tools used, and difficulties in classifying ED presentations.