Journal article 403 views 48 downloads
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on presentations to health services following self-harm: systematic review
Sarah Steeg 
,
Ann John ,
David J. Gunnell,
Nav Kapur ,
Dana Dekel ,
Lena Schmidt,
Duleeka Knipe ,
Ella Arensman,
Keith Hawton,
Julian P. T. Higgins,
Emily Eyles,
Catherine Macleod-Hall,
Luke A. McGuiness,
Roger T. Webb
,
Ann John ,
David J. Gunnell,
Nav Kapur ,
Dana Dekel ,
Lena Schmidt,
Duleeka Knipe ,
Ella Arensman,
Keith Hawton,
Julian P. T. Higgins,
Emily Eyles,
Catherine Macleod-Hall,
Luke A. McGuiness,
Roger T. Webb
The British Journal of Psychiatry, Volume: 221, Issue: 4, Pages: 1 - 10
Swansea University Authors:
Ann John , Dana Dekel
-
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DOI (Published version): 10.1192/bjp.2022.79
Abstract
BackgroundEvidence on the impact of the pandemic on healthcare presentations for self-harm has accumulated rapidly. However, existing reviews do not include studies published beyond 2020.AimsTo systematically review evidence on presentations to health services following self-harm during the COVID-19...
| Published in: | The British Journal of Psychiatry |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0007-1250 1472-1465 |
| Published: |
Royal College of Psychiatrists
2022
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60523 |
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| Abstract: |
BackgroundEvidence on the impact of the pandemic on healthcare presentations for self-harm has accumulated rapidly. However, existing reviews do not include studies published beyond 2020.AimsTo systematically review evidence on presentations to health services following self-harm during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodA comprehensive search of databases (WHO COVID-19 database; Medline; medRxiv; Scopus; PsyRxiv; SocArXiv; bioRxiv; COVID-19 Open Research Dataset, PubMed) was conducted. Studies published from 1 January 2020 to 7 September 2021 were included. Study quality was assessed with a critical appraisal tool.ResultsFifty-one studies were included: 57% (29/51) were rated as ‘low’ quality, 31% (16/51) as ‘moderate’ and 12% (6/51) as ‘high-moderate’. Most evidence (84%, 43/51) was from high-income countries. A total of 47% (24/51) of studies reported reductions in presentation frequency, including all six rated as high-moderate quality, which reported reductions of 17–56%. Settings treating higher lethality self-harm were overrepresented among studies reporting increased demand. Two of the three higher-quality studies including study observation months from 2021 reported reductions in self-harm presentations. Evidence from 2021 suggests increased numbers of presentations among adolescents, particularly girls.ConclusionsSustained reductions in numbers of self-harm presentations were seen into the first half of 2021, although this evidence is based on a relatively small number of higher-quality studies. Evidence from low- and middle-income countries is lacking. Increased numbers of presentations among adolescents, particularly girls, into 2021 is concerning. Findings may reflect changes in thresholds for help-seeking, use of alternative sources of support and variable effects of the pandemic across groups. |
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| Keywords: |
Epidemiology; self-harm; primary care; suicide; COVID-19 |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
S.S. is funded by a University of Manchester Presidential Fellowship. N.K. and R.T.W. are funded
by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Greater Manchester Patient Safety
Translational Research Centre (GM PSTRC) at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
and the University of Manchester (grant no. PSTRC-2016-003). J.P.T.H. is an NIHR Senior
Investigator (grant nos., until March 2022: NF-SI-0617-10145; from April 2022: NIHR203807).
D.J.G. and J.P.T.H. are both are supported by the NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre at
University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol
(grant no. BRC-1215-20011). J.P.T.H. and E.E. are supported by the NIHR Applied Research
Collaboration West (ARC West) at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation
Trust and the University of Bristol (grant no. NIHR200181). D.K. was supported by the
Wellcome Trust through an Institutional Strategic Support Fund Award to the Elizabeth
Blackwell Institute for Health Research, University of Bristol (grant no. 204813/Z/16/Z). |
| Issue: |
4 |
| Start Page: |
1 |
| End Page: |
10 |