Trends in Emergency Department Visits for Drug-Related Suicide Attempts among Females: 2005 and 2009

摘要

Suicide ranks 7th in the top 10 leading causes of death for females aged 12 to 65, making suicide prevention among women a public health priority. Although men have higher suicide death rates, women are treated for attempted suicide more often than men. More than 215,000 emergency department (ED) visits involving intentional self-harm were made by females in 2009, and females were involved in 3 out of 5 ED visits for drugrelated suicide attempts. Because suicide attempts are a risk factor for subsequent suicide attempts, the ED may represent a key opportunity for mental health intervention.