Corona study: three times more children after attempted suicide in intensive care unit than before Corona
Created: 01/10/2022, 6:09 PM
From: Bettina Menzel
A study by Professor Christian Dohna-Schwake at the Essen University Hospital showed that the number of children who had to go to intensive care after attempting suicide has tripled compared to the time before Corona.
© Monkey Business 2 / Shotshop / Imago
A study by the Essen University Hospital found that the number of suicide attempts in children has increased significantly since Corona.
The second lockdown in particular was tough on mental health.
Essen - The number of children who had to be treated in the intensive care unit after a suicide attempt rose by around 300 percent in the second lockdown compared to the time before the corona pandemic.
This is the result of a study by the University Hospital Essen, about which the head of the children's intensive care unit, Professor Christian Dohna-Schwake, reported in videocast
19 - the chief visit
.
Significant increase in suicide attempts: study leader “surprised” by the numbers
The results of the study surprised him, said the doctor and scientist Professor Christian Dohna-Schwake in videocast
19 - the chief visit.
In the second lockdown, more children and adolescents were admitted to the intensive care unit after attempting suicide. The number of recordings due to a suicide attempt tripled at the end of the second lockdown compared to the time before Corona. During the first lockdown, however, the number had declined. A comparison between the first and second lockdown would therefore result in a four-fold increase. Between March and the end of May 2021, a total of around 500 children and adolescents had to be treated in intensive care units in Germany for attempted suicide. "That definitely surprised me," said the head of the study. "We did not expect the three-fold increase."
The study is based on surveys in 27 German children's intensive care units.
It is a so-called preprint.
This means that the investigation has not yet passed through the peer review and has therefore not yet been reviewed by specialist colleagues.
Reasons for the increase in suicide attempts: "Keeping schools A and O open for preventive measures"
"We know that mental health has clearly suffered," said Professor Christian Dohna-Schwake when asked about what triggered the high number of cases. "Depressive disorders, anxiety disorders and also eating disorders have doubled in some cases, tripled among children and adolescents". In the first lockdown there was a chance that it would get better. There was also good weather so you could go outside. “The second lockdown, although it was looser, was like chewing gum from my point of view. There was much less confidence that it would finally pass, ”continued Dohna-Schwake. Especially children who already suffered from depressive moods were affected.
When asked about the impact of school closings, the scientist explains: “Social contacts outside of digital media are preventive. Common sense says that, but studies also say that. "School is a place with social contacts. "In this respect, keeping schools open is the alpha and omega of preventive measures from my point of view," continues Dohna-Schwake. As long as it somehow works, the schools should therefore be kept open from his point of view.
Many agencies offer help with depression and suicidal ideation.
In Germany, for example, those affected can call the telephone counseling service on 0800 1110111.
The offer is anonymous and free of charge.
The pediatric intensive care specialist Professor Dohna-Schwake names the paediatricians as the first point of contact, but the helplines, child and youth psychiatry and youth welfare offices are also available to offer advice and assistance.