Youth suicide and self-harm has increased in wealthy nations since 2000, especially in girls

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-03-17 02:00

Australia; New Zealand; International

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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 (Aus) on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or Lifeline (NZ) on 0800 543 354. ***
The rates of suicide and self-injury in high-income countries – including Australia – increased between 2000 and 2024, according to international researchers. The team reviewed 42 previous studies and found a 3.5% annual increase in health care visits for self-injury, as well as 2.5% annual increase in self-reported self-injury rates. This increase was particularly prevalent in girls, with a 3.6% annual increase in female healthcare visits compared to 1.2% for boys. The researchers say these numbers are pooled estimates of country data, and the effects in individual countries may vary. They add that culture, healthcare systems, and local policies may lead to different rates. The team notes Australia’s social media ban is worth monitoring to understand future effects and whether the policy should be followed elsewhere or reversed here.

News release

From: JAMA

Long-Term Trends in Pediatric Self-Injury in High-Income Countries

About The Study: This systematic review and meta-analysis of 42 studies observed a relative increase in the annual rate of self-injury visits to health care and self-reported self-injury among children and youth, with variability in baseline rates across studies in 12 high-income countries. Effective, contextually informed, large-scale prevention initiatives are urgently needed to curb the rise in self-injury within high-income countries, particularly among female individuals.

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Journal/
conference: JAMA Pediatrics

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: The Hospital for Sick Children, Canada

Funder: This study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health research grant UIP-178845 (Drs Saunders and Cohen). Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Saunders reported grants from the Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, and the Canadian Institutes of Health during the conduct of the study as well as personal fees from the BMJ Group, Archives of Disease in Childhood (honorarium as Associate Editor), and from Cana (honorarium) outside the submitted work. Dr Cohen reported being a member of the Committee to Evaluate Drugs, which provides advice to Ontario’s Ministry of Health on public drug policy. No other disclosures were reported.

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