Marked increase in children with suicidal ideation
Emergency room consultations at the Montreal Children's Hospital for suicide attempts have more than quadrupled in 10 years, worryingly.
"It's alarming. The trend is very clear, "says Dr. Brett Burstein, an emergency pediatrician at the Montreal Children's Hospital, affiliated with the McGill University Health Center (MUHC).
"What is obvious is that there are more children coming to the emergency department with suicidal behaviors," he notes.
Between 2008 and 2018, the number of minors who consulted for suicide attempts or suicidal ideations
actually increased significantly by 358%, according to data obtained by Le Journal .
Also, the number of young patients hospitalized for these problems has almost tripled. Yet the total number
of ED visits remained stable during this period.
In addition, the data is "largely underestimated," says Dr. Burstein, because of the difficulties in accounting for these cases. In fact, last spring, he published a study on the rise in adolescent suicide attempts in the United States, in the journal JAMA Pediatrics .
At the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center, these data are not counted, we were told.
The majority of patients seen at the MUHC are adolescents, but sometimes children under 10 years of age. Relational issues, bullying, psychiatric illnesses: the causes are multifactorial, according to experts interviewed by Le Journal .
Social networks
Recently, studies have shown that the influence of social media and time spent in front of screens can lead to black ideas.
"We see a significant number of young people who have screens and social media use rates that are more than six to eight hours a day," says Dr. Sébastien Collette, psychiatrist and Acting Chief of the Emergency Department. Rivière-des-Prairies Hospital, Montreal.
Internet addiction is clearly growing. "
At this hospital, the increase in suicide visits has increased by 15% in three years.
However, a psychologist specializing in the issue believes that a better awareness could explain the increase in emergency room visits.
"Good sign"
"A lot of education has been done. To have the reflex of going to the hospital is a good sign, "said Réal Labelle, a psychologist at the University of Quebec in Montreal. That does not mean that young people are more distressed. "
Another worrying fact: a suicide attempt at a young age increases the risks in the future.
"That's why it's so worrisome," says Dr. Burstein, who believes external help needs to be improved to avoid dramas.
"Once you have a patient, what do you do to reduce risk in the future? We are running out of resources. "
The number of teen suicides has been low and stable for 10 years in Quebec.
"It's alarming. The trend is very clear, "says Dr. Brett Burstein, an emergency pediatrician at the Montreal Children's Hospital, affiliated with the McGill University Health Center (MUHC).
"What is obvious is that there are more children coming to the emergency department with suicidal behaviors," he notes.
Between 2008 and 2018, the number of minors who consulted for suicide attempts or suicidal ideations
actually increased significantly by 358%, according to data obtained by Le Journal .
Also, the number of young patients hospitalized for these problems has almost tripled. Yet the total number
of ED visits remained stable during this period.
In addition, the data is "largely underestimated," says Dr. Burstein, because of the difficulties in accounting for these cases. In fact, last spring, he published a study on the rise in adolescent suicide attempts in the United States, in the journal JAMA Pediatrics .
At the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center, these data are not counted, we were told.
The majority of patients seen at the MUHC are adolescents, but sometimes children under 10 years of age. Relational issues, bullying, psychiatric illnesses: the causes are multifactorial, according to experts interviewed by Le Journal .
Social networks
Recently, studies have shown that the influence of social media and time spent in front of screens can lead to black ideas.
"We see a significant number of young people who have screens and social media use rates that are more than six to eight hours a day," says Dr. Sébastien Collette, psychiatrist and Acting Chief of the Emergency Department. Rivière-des-Prairies Hospital, Montreal.
Internet addiction is clearly growing. "
At this hospital, the increase in suicide visits has increased by 15% in three years.
However, a psychologist specializing in the issue believes that a better awareness could explain the increase in emergency room visits.
"Good sign"
"A lot of education has been done. To have the reflex of going to the hospital is a good sign, "said Réal Labelle, a psychologist at the University of Quebec in Montreal. That does not mean that young people are more distressed. "
Another worrying fact: a suicide attempt at a young age increases the risks in the future.
"That's why it's so worrisome," says Dr. Burstein, who believes external help needs to be improved to avoid dramas.
"Once you have a patient, what do you do to reduce risk in the future? We are running out of resources. "
The number of teen suicides has been low and stable for 10 years in Quebec.
Services did not follow the needs
While education campaigns have made a lot of noise in recent years to encourage people to consult for mental health problems,
the services are not at the rendezvous, deplore several.
"It's a big paradox. In recent years, we have made incredible campaigns saying "go consult!" In contrast, in the system we made significant cuts, "denounces Réal Labelle, psychologist at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM).
While education campaigns have made a lot of noise in recent years to encourage people to consult for mental health problems,
the services are not at the rendezvous, deplore several.
"It's a big paradox. In recent years, we have made incredible campaigns saying "go consult!" In contrast, in the system we made significant cuts, "denounces Réal Labelle, psychologist at the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM).
Poor parent
"Mental health is the poor relative of the health care system," says Dr. Sébastien Collette, acting head of the emergency department at Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies in Montreal. It is certain that it is underfunded and it is clear that it would be desirable for people to have access to services. "
Currently, delays in obtaining psychological support for children who have suicidal thoughts are
too long and can be months, say doctors.
In Rivière-des-Prairies, some young people who are waiting for service sometimes even come back
to the emergency room, in crisis, before receiving any help.
"For urgent cases, in general we are able to get them easily [services]. But when it's less acute, they need the CLSC,
so they end up on waiting lists. And they have time to deteriorate, "he says.
Yet, Labelle compares the risks of suicide to cardiology.
"The minutes matter. [...]. If there is a waiting list of three months at the CLSC, it does not work, "he says.
Private Turn
In addition, the quality of services has deteriorated significantly in the public for the benefit of the private sector, notes Mr. Labelle.
"For the last five years, we've been going over a lot of cases in a private office for increasingly heavy cases,
because the public system no longer takes them. There are no more resources. It's sad."
"Mental health is the poor relative of the health care system," says Dr. Sébastien Collette, acting head of the emergency department at Hôpital Rivière-des-Prairies in Montreal. It is certain that it is underfunded and it is clear that it would be desirable for people to have access to services. "
Currently, delays in obtaining psychological support for children who have suicidal thoughts are
too long and can be months, say doctors.
In Rivière-des-Prairies, some young people who are waiting for service sometimes even come back
to the emergency room, in crisis, before receiving any help.
"For urgent cases, in general we are able to get them easily [services]. But when it's less acute, they need the CLSC,
so they end up on waiting lists. And they have time to deteriorate, "he says.
Yet, Labelle compares the risks of suicide to cardiology.
"The minutes matter. [...]. If there is a waiting list of three months at the CLSC, it does not work, "he says.
Private Turn
In addition, the quality of services has deteriorated significantly in the public for the benefit of the private sector, notes Mr. Labelle.
"For the last five years, we've been going over a lot of cases in a private office for increasingly heavy cases,
because the public system no longer takes them. There are no more resources. It's sad."
If you need help
Quebec suicide prevention line
aqps.info
1 866 APPELLE (277-3553)
Kids Help Phone
jeunessejecoute.ca
1 800 668-6868
Tel-Jeunes
teljeunes.com
1 800 263-2266
Quebec suicide prevention line
aqps.info
1 866 APPELLE (277-3553)
Kids Help Phone
jeunessejecoute.ca
1 800 668-6868
Tel-Jeunes
teljeunes.com
1 800 263-2266
Thank you for your visit