Pediatric Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits Related to Mental Health Conditions and Self-Harm.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Mental disorders among the pediatric population are a major area of public health concern. Little is known regarding changes in pediatric hospital resource use related to mental health (MH) long after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

Objective

To assess rates and trends of hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) visits related to MH and self-harm (SH) among children before and during the 3 years following the pandemic onset.

Design, setting, and participants

This cross-sectional study used national hospital data. The study sample included all MH- and SH-related hospitalizations and ED visits among children aged 6 to 17 years in France between January 1, 2016, to May 31, 2023.

Main outcomes and measures

Interrupted time-series

SUBMITTER: Valtuille Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11522941 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature