Trends in self-harm visits to the emergency department among children and youth before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta: An interrupted time series analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

This study aims to describe and compare the rate of self-harm visits to the emergency department (ED) among children and youth in Alberta, before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Data from 2010 to 2022 were obtained from administrative databases held at Alberta Health Services, which capture all ED visits across Alberta. An interrupted time series was implemented using autoregressive moving average models.

Results

Findings indicate a step decrease in self-harm visits at pandemic onset (-2.94 patients per 10,000; P = 0.008). However, the rate of increase in self-harm visits remained consistent with the prepandemic rate of visits (slope change: 0.047 per 10,000, P = 0.24). There were also significant step changes found among males and fe

SUBMITTER: Barry R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12861531 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature