In the last 10 years , the accesses of very young people to the Bambino Gesù hospital for having thought and planned suicide or having attempted it have grown exponentially, with an increase in particular of 75% in the 2 years of the pandemic compared to the previous two years.

From 369 cases in 2018-2019 it has gone to 649 in 2020-2021, practically one case every day on average. This is documented by the data recorded by the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital on the eve of the World Day dedicated to the prevention of suicide, on 10 September.

THE CAUSES - Numerous scientific studies document that the incidence of suicide and the prevalence of suicidal behaviors has increased both in some European countries and in the USA, especially among adolescents, explain from the hospital. This growth seems to be linked to a general trend towards an increase in mood disorders in developmental age in high-income countries. The correlation between severe depression and suicide attempt between young and very young people is confirmed by recent studies. And the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of children and adolescents is also documented: internationally, the prevalence of cases of depression and anxiety disorders doubled in 2021.

"Early identification with accurate diagnoses and the treatment of depression - underlines Professor Stefano Vicari , head of Infancy and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry of the Child Jesus - are preventive interventions of primary importance to reduce the risk of suicide among the youngest ".
THE DATA - In the last decade, the number of neuropsychiatric consultations in the emergency room of the Department of Emergency, Acceptance and General Pediatrics of the Bambino Gesù has increased by 11 times , passing from 155 cases to 1,824. In particular, urgent consultations for suicidal ideation, suicide attempt and self-injurious behaviors in young people between the ages of 9 and 17 have increased almost 40 times (from 12 to 449 cases).

COVID - The restrictive measures during the Covid pandemic have had an important impact on young and very young people, leading to an increase in requests for help . In the previous two-year period (2018-19), access to the emergency room for suicidal ideation, suicide attempt and self-harm had been 464. In 2020 and 2021 they became 752, with an increase of over 60%. If one considers only the suicide, conceived or attempted, the increase in cases compared to the previous two years exceeds 75%. In the last 2 years there have been 477 cases of suicidal ideation (+ 88% compared to 2018-19), 172 suicide attempts (+ 50%) and 103 self-injurious behaviors (+ 8%). Over 80% of suicide attempts are made by girls and boys; the average age of those who try to take their own life is about 15, the youngest is 9 years old.

The Covid pandemic also marked a watershed in terms of admissions to Neuropsychiatry which went from 338 in 2019 to 492 in 2021 with an increase of 45%. In particular, hospitalizations in Neuropsychiatry for self-harm went from 30 to over 60% of the total.

“Depression and anxiety disorders among the very young have been increasing exponentially for years. The pandemic has only accentuated the phenomenon ”, adds Vicari. “The emergency that affects our children is fought by allocating more resources to tools for the prevention and promotion of mental health. Starting from the school, understood as a place that cultivates positive relationships, to the structures in the area so that they are able to intercept the discomfort and support families. The suggestion for parents is to offer time to their children, to pay attention to the signs of discomfort and, if there are changes in behavior, ask for help without fear. Mental illnesses, if dealt with in the right time, have a high probability of recovery ”.

(Unioneonline / vl)

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