ER Visits By U.S. Kids With ‘Suicidal Thoughts’ Or Considering Suicide Doubles

UNITED STATES: (THECOUNT) — According to a shocking new JAMA Pediatrics study, the number of children and teens visiting the emergency room for suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts has almost doubled over eight years.

The research letter studied suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts among children and teens in U.S. Emergency Departments between 2007 and 2015.

The study found that the estimated annual emergency room visits for suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts increased from 580,000 to 1.12 million between 2007 and 2015. 43.1% of these visits were reportedly for children aged 5 to younger than 11 years only, reports FoxLA.

A previous analysis by NHAMCS also reported a doubling in emergency room visits for suicidal behavior in all age categories between 1993 and 2008.

The study concluded its research letter by stating that there is a critical need to increase community mental health resources, emergency room physician preparedness, and post–emergency room risk reduction initiatives to decrease the burden of suicide among children.