Attempted suicide, self-mutilation… an unprecedented increase in hospitalizations among adolescents and young women

Suicide attempts: unprecedented increase in hospitalizations among girls and young women

A study by the Department of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (Drees) provides an overview of hospitalizations in France for self-inflicted acts (suicide attempts or self-mutilation). On the front line, girls and young women for whom the progression is brutal and unprecedented over the period 2021-2022.

The Department of Research, Studies, Evaluation and Statistics (Drees) publishes the results of a study on hospitalizations linked to a deterioration in the mental health of adolescent girls and young women.

Doubling of psychiatric hospitalizations

In this segment of the population, the rate of hospitalization for self-inflicted acts is increasing sharply. Thus, compared to the period 2010-2019, the hospitalization rates in medicine and surgery departments increased by 71% among girls aged 10 to 14, and by 44% among adolescents aged 15 to 19 years old and 21% among young women aged 20 to 24 years old, in 2021-2022.

The increase in rates in psychiatry is dizzying: +246% for 10-14 year olds, +163% for 15-19 year olds and over ;106% for 20-24 year olds. "In psychiatry, the rate of hospitalizations for self-inflicted acts among female patients aged 10 to 19 doubled between 2012 and 2020 then doubled by new between 2020 and 2022", illustrates the Drees in a press release.

Intentional drug poisonings represent two thirds of hospitalizations. This is followed by injuries inflicted by a sharp object and more violent actions such as hanging or jumping into space. "The share of patients aged 10 to 24 whose hospitalization includes a passage in an intensive care unit remains stable, around 10 %, suggesting that the actions with the most severe consequences progress in the same way, specifies the Drees.

A generalized trend across all social strata and territories

While the number of hospitalizations in medicine and surgery departments had stabilized in 2022 among girls aged 10 to 14, the figures will start to rise again in 2023. Same trend on the rise among young women aged 20 to 24.

The increase in hospitalizations is widespread across all territories, in rural, urban, advantaged or disadvantaged places of residence. However, the figures remain higher in disadvantaged areas and populations.

Stable figures for boys and young men

Conversely, the rates of hospitalizations for self-inflicted acts have been falling continuously since 2010 among men and women aged 30 to 55. Among young boys and men aged 10 to 24, levels have been stable for 16 years, well below the levels observed in girls. Differences difficult to explain. "The search for a male counterpart to the increase in self-inflicted acts among girls through a possible increase in risky behavior (which can be translate into physical attacks, transport accidents or taking toxic substances), proves unsuccessful, hospitalizations linked to these reasons not having a tendency to increase particularly among men aged 10 to 24, underlines the Drees.

No more suicide attempts in the Somme

Finally, regional disparities are significant, with, from the lowest to the highest figure, 35 hospitalizations for suicide attempts per 100,000 inhabitants in Guadeloupe to 260 in the Somme. "Several departments, notably in Hauts-de-France, Brittany and Burgundy Franche-Comté have rates well above the national average which is 113 per 100 000 inhabitants, unlike the overseas departments and Île de France which have lower rates, details the Drees.