TOPLINE:

Emergency department (ED) visits for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STB) among US children aged 8-12 years increased from 2010 to 2020, with many children returning within months.

METHODOLOGY:

Researchers examined electronic health records of children aged 8-12 years who presented to the ED between 2010 and 2020 using the State Emergency Department Databases. The analysis included 10,131,432 ED visits across 12 states; of these, 627,517 ED visits were for mental health concerns and/or STB.

Patients were followed up for up to 1 year after their ED visit to capture subsequent ED visits for STB.

The visits were categorized as either for STB or for other non-STB mental health causes.

TAKEAWAY:

STB accounted for 15% of pediatric mental health and/or STB ED visits, increasing f

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