Suicide attempt and self-harm: more and more young girls hospitalized

Une étude de l’Observatoire national du suicide (ONS) pointe une hausse de 63 % du nombre d’hospitalisations chez les filles de 10 à 14 ans pour geste auto-infligé en 2022 (photo d'illustration).

A study by the National Suicide Observatory (ONS) points to a 63% increase in the number of hospitalizations among girls aged 10 to 14 for self-inflicted acts – suicide attempt and self-mutilation – in 2022 .

More and more young girls are hospitalized for self-inflicted acts. These gestures concern suicide attempts or self-mutilation (direct physical injuries such as scarification or burns). According to a study by the National Suicide Observatory (ONS), led by the DREES, in 2022, 75,803 people aged 10 or over were hospitalized for self-inflicted acts. 64% of them are women according to this work published on February 5.

Sudden increase among young girls

And if this figure is equivalent to that before the health crisis, it nevertheless marks a break. Sudden increases were observed among girls and young women between the periods 2015-2019 and 2021-2022. Girls aged 10 to 14 are 63% more likely to have been hospitalized for attempted suicide or self-harm between 2021 and 2022. Among adolescents aged 15 to 19, they are 42% more. 24% more for the 20-24 age group. The level remains stable or decreases in other population categories.

A trend "accelerated by the crisis"

This study corroborates that of Public Health France published this Monday, which shows a significant increase in suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts among 18-24 year olds in 2021, particularly among young women. 9.4% of them reported having had suicidal thoughts during the year, compared to 5% of men of the same age. According to the ONS, these upward trends "pre-existed the health crisis and appear to have been accelerated by it".

Social fractures

The study also highlights "a very marked social gradient".Suicide attempts and self-mutilation are in fact higher among the poorest people. "Between ages 15 and 19, where a first peak of hospitalizations for these procedures is identified among adolescent girls, the rate of hospitalized patients is nearly twice as high among the bottom quarter living standards than in the upper quarter", illustrates the study. And 3.5 times more women aged 40 to 45, the second peak in hospitalization for self-inflicted acts, come from the least well-off quarter of the population (compared to the most well-off quarter).< /p>

31 14, a listening line

Concerning men, for whom the peak of hospitalization for self-inflicted acts is reached between the ages of 45 and 49, we find this same social pattern. "Men belonging to the lowest quarter of living standards, (who) have rates of hospitalizations for self-inflicted acts five times higher than those of the wealthiest quarter.& ;quot;

Several helplines are dedicated to suicide prevention. 31 14 is the national number for suffering and suicide prevention. Nightline, which opened in December 2023, is particularly aimed at students in distress. The line is available on the Internet or by telephone: https://www.nightline.fr/