Suicide attempts treated in a pediatric emergency department, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

Suicide attempt in pediatric emergency

  • Abigail Casas Muñoz Instituto Nacional de Pediatría http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2347-6517
  • María del Carmen Obregón Mondragón, Dra. Emergency Department, National Institute of Pediatrics https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7346-7910
  • Aarón Rodríguez Caballero, M. en C. National Pediatrics Institute, Center for Advanced Studies on Violence and its Prevention (CEAVI-P) https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3881-9551
  • Ángel Eduardo Velasco Rojano, PsyD National Pediatrics Institute, Center for Advanced Studies on Violence and its Prevention (CEAVI-P) https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0858-4568
  • Nahomi Patricia Gallardo Pérez Medicine Degree, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico. First-year resident of General Surgery, Regional General Hospital 251 Metepec IMSS, Mexico
  • Rosa Valentina Vega Rangel, Dra. Department of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies, National Institute of Pediatrics, Mexico City, Mexico
  • Victoria Abril Agatón Peralta Psychology Major, Universidad Latina (south campus), Mexico City, Mexico.
  • Ivanna Sofía Barrón González Psychology Major, Universidad Latina (south campus), Mexico City, Mexico.
  • Diana Laura Sandoval Ortega Actuarial Career, Faculty of Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18233/apm.v45i1S.2837

Abstract

Background. Suicide is a public health problem. Suicide attempts (SA) in adolescents increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective. Identify the frequency of SA cases treated in the emergency department by temporality (in the last five years) and describe the possible risk factors and possible triggers, some characteristics of the SA, and the request for care.

Methods. An observational, retrospective, and descriptive study of file review from 2018 to 2023.

Results. 296 records with the diagnosis of IS were reviewed. 74% were women, 56% were late adolescents, 43% were early adolescents, and 1% were children. During the pandemic, there was a 266% increase in cases treated by SA. Due to timing, in the month of January pre-pandemic the number of cases was higher and during the pandemic it decreased, the opposite happened for the months of February, March, July and September. The main risk factors and triggers were: interpersonal conflicts (64.19%), social stress (57.43%), exacerbation of a previous mental health disorder (56.08%), a history of previous IS (48.31%), parental divorce (31.42%) and experiencing different forms of violence [psychological (28.33%), sexual (18.92%) and peer violence (16.55%)]. The hours for requesting care were mainly concentrated in the evening and night shifts (79.39%).

Conclusions. During the pandemic, there was an increase in the number of cases treated for SA in adolescents in the emergency department and changes in the timing of presentation.

Author Biographies

Abigail Casas Muñoz, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría

La Dra. Casas es Médico Cirujano por la Universidad de Guadalajara, especialista en pediatría por el Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, UNAM. Maestra en investigación clínica por el IPN; Maestra y Doctora en Ciencias por la UNAM.

Investigadora en ciencias médicas y cofundadora en la Coordinación de Estudios Avanzados sobre Maltrato Infantil y Prevención del Instituto Nacional de Pediatría (CEAMI-P, INP). Sus líneas de investigación se centran en: la Identificación y prevención de la violencia hacia las niñas, niños y adolescentes, el maltrato infantil (concepto, identificación, prevalencia y prevención), derechos humanos de las niñas, niños y adolescentes, adolescentes en conflicto con la ley, así como violencia y salud mental en adolescentes.

Ha colaborado como investigadora y como experta en el tema con instituciones como UNICEF, CENSIA, IMJUVE, el proyecto ALUMBRA y la comunidad de expertos para la prevención de la violencia sexual infantil.

Cuenta con 24 publicaciones en revistas científicas nacionales e internacionales, 15 capítulos de libro y un libro sobre el tema.

Ha recibido diversos premios y reconocimientos por sus trabajos de investigación sobre violencia hacia niñas, niños y adolescentes, entre ellos se encuentran: El premio “Lázaro Benavides Vázquez”.

Su experiencia y labor en el tema le han llevado a ser miembro de diversas asociaciones y sociedades, como la Academia Mexicana de Pediatría, la Alianza Global para terminar con la violencia contra los niños, es integrante del Sistema de Protección de Niñas, niños y adolescentes de la Ciudad de Mëxico (SIPINNA CDMX), y miembro del consejo de la Sociedad Internacional para la prevención del abuso y negligencia infantil (ISPCAN).

María del Carmen Obregón Mondragón, Dra., Emergency Department, National Institute of Pediatrics

My medical training as a Pediatrician and mainly in the field of Critical Medicine, have allowed me to care for seriously ill children, I worked 30 years in an Intensive Care Unit, as a Doctor assigned to a Third Level Hospital of Petróleos Mexicanos, as well as 5 years in the National Institute of Pediatrics, 3 as assistat manager Director of Critical Medicine and 2 years as Head of the Emergency Department,  It has also allowed me to participate in teaching, in the training of new doctors in these areas of medicine, participate in the preparation of postgraduate theses as part of research.

Aarón Rodríguez Caballero, M. en C., National Pediatrics Institute, Center for Advanced Studies on Violence and its Prevention (CEAVI-P)

Aarón Rodriguez-Caballero MsC. Researcher at the Center for Advanced Studies on Violence – Prevention at National Paediatrics Institute of México. Professional training, Biologist, Lawyer and Master of Science. Research topics: Human Rights, Childrens Rrights, Gender and Health.

Ángel Eduardo Velasco Rojano, PsyD, National Pediatrics Institute, Center for Advanced Studies on Violence and its Prevention (CEAVI-P)

Eduardo Velasco-Rojano PhD, is a social psychologist and researcher in the Center for Advanced Studies on Violence – Prevention at National Paediatrics Institute of México. His research focuses on prevention of violence against children and adolescents, and environmental stress. He is interested in using evaluation as a tool to initiate and support policy-level change.

Published
2024-03-11
How to Cite
Casas Muñoz, A., Mondragón, M. del C., Caballero, A., Rojano, Ángel E., Pérez, N. P., Rangel, R. V., Peralta, V. A., González, I. S., & Ortega, D. L. (2024). Suicide attempts treated in a pediatric emergency department, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Acta Pediátrica De México, 45(1S), S3-S15. https://doi.org/10.18233/apm.v45i1S.2837
Issue
Vol 45 No 1S (2024)
Section
Artículo original