Hosp Pediatr. 2025 Dec 3:e2025008550. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2025-008550. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) among pre-adolescents are increasing at alarming rates in the United States, with notable differences based on race, ethnicity, and sex, but little is known about nonfatal STBs in the group.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of STB-related encounters among youth aged 6 through 12 using nationally representative US hospital data from 2020 to 2022, drawn from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Emergency Department Sample and National Inpatient Sample. Demographic and clinical characteristics were analyzed, as were type of STB (suicidal ideation, intentional overdose, asphyxiation, etc), classified using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision diagnosis codes. National-level census denominators were used to calculate trends in rates of STB-related encounters as well as national and regional rates by racial/ethnic and sex subgroups.
RESULTS: The majority of patients with STB (78.9%) had a code indicating only suicidal ideation as the reason for the encounter. Girls were 2.10 times more likely than boys to have an ED encounter for any STB (95% CI 2.06-2.14) and were 9.14 times more likely than boys to have an ED encounter for prescription drug overdose (95% CI 8.31-10.06). Over the 3-year study period, there were increasing trends in encounter rates for all groups, but the largest increases were seen among minoritized girls.
DISCUSSION: There is an urgent need for a safety net of care so that caregivers of children with suicide risk have options other than the hospital for acute treatment of suicidal ideation and behaviors. Culturally responsive services are critical to addressing this public health crisis.
PMID:41330408 | DOI:10.1542/hpeds.2025-008550
