A new study shows the number of Ontario teens visiting a hospital emergency department for self-harm has more than doubled between 2009 and 2017. The study, published this week in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, also found the rates of visits by teens aged 13 to 17 for mental health problems rose 78 per cent during that time. The study was conducted using data on emergency department visits from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. The research notes that teens who intentionally hurt themselves through poisoning or injury are at risk for repeated self-harm or suicide. “Engagement with social media could lead to increased rates of self-harm, at least for vulnerable adolescents,” said Gardner, who is also professor of epidemiology at the University of Ottawa.

Source: National Post June 12, 2019 15:33 UTC