Characteristics of self-harm presentations to the emergency department of the Royal Melbourne Hospital, 2012–2019: Data from the Self-Harm Monitoring System for Victoria

K Witt; G Rajaram; M Lamblin; J Knott; A Dean; MJ Spittal; G Carter; A Page; J Pirkis; J Robinson

Journal article

Characteristics of self-harm presentations to the emergency department of the Royal Melbourne Hospital, 2012–2019: Data from the Self-Harm Monitoring System for Victoria

K Witt, G Rajaram, M Lamblin, J Knott, A Dean, MJ Spittal, G Carter, A Page, J Pirkis, J Robinson

Australasian Emergency Care | Published : 2023

DOI: 10.1016/j.auec.2023.01.003

Abstract

Background: Rates of self-harm and suicide are increasing world-wide, particularly in young females. Emergency departments (EDs) are a common first point-of-contact for young people who self-harm. We examined age- and sex-related differences in: (1) rates of self-harm over an eight-year period; (2) changes in demographic, presentation, and treatment characteristics over this period, and; (3) rates of, and time to, self-harm re-presentation. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of all self-harm presentations in persons aged nine years and older to the Royal Melbourne Hospital ED over an eight-year period, 1 January 2012–31 December 2019. The Royal Melbourne Hospital is one of..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Katrina Witt Author

Michelle Lamblin Author

Jonathan Knott Author

Matthew Spittal Author

Related Projects (1)

A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO PREVENTING YOUTH SUICIDE

This fellowship aims to reduce youth suicide via an integrated research program delivered across North West Melbourne. It’s objectives are t..

Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

This study received funding from Future Generations Global, The William Buckland Foundation, and the Victorian Department of Health. KW is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Emerging Leaders 1 Investigator Grant (1177787) . JR is supported by a NHMRC Career Development Fellowship (1142348) . The funders played no role in study design, data collec-tion and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manu-script.