The rate of young people hospitalised with an injury has doubled over the past 20 years in the ACT

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-01-22 00:01

Australia; ACT

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***This media release contains information some readers may find distressing as it refers to data about mental health, suicide and self-harm. If you or anyone you know needs help, support is available now. Call Lifeline on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. ***

Young people aged 24 and under in the ACT are being hospitalised with injuries at twice the rate they were 20 years ago, according to Australian research. The team used hospital data to look at the rate, type and severity of injury-related hospitalisations for people aged 0-24 from 2000-2001 to 2019-2020, and found hospitalisations increased at an average of 3.6% each year over that time. The researchers say the majority of these hospitalisations are minor and while about two-thirds were men and boys, injuries increased more rapidly in women and girls. For moderate and serious injuries, the researchers say head injuries are most common, but self-harm has emerged as a major cause over time.