Citation

Borschmann R, Craig S, Hiscock H. Lancet Child Adolesc. Health 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; Health Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Health Services Research Unit, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S2352-4642(19)30397-9

PMID

31926770

Abstract

Suicide and self-harm (defined as intentional, non-fatal self-poisoning or self-injury, irrespective of suicidal intent) 1 are major contributors to morbidity and mortality in young people globally. 2 The incidence of self-harm in young people is rising in the UK 3 and Australia, 4 and young people with a history of self-harm are at markedly increased risk of adverse non-fatal and fatal outcomes. 5 However, few studies have examined the relationship between child and adolescent emergency department presentations for self-harm and subsequent mortality. In this context, Keith Hawton and colleagues' longitudinal study 6 in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health provides new insights into the longer-term association between hospital-treated self-harm and premature mortality, including suicide.

Language: en