Health Statistics

Intentional Self Harm

Injury due to intentional self-harm is a serious and preventable public health concern in NWHU region. Rates for hospitalizations and mortality have been significantly higher in the NWHU region than the province of Ontario.  

Females tend to have higher rates of hospitalization from self-harm than males, however males have higher rates of death from self-harm (suicide). It is understood that men and women exhibit intentional self-harm behaviors differently; where men express this behavior through more fatal acts (i.e. use of firearm) while women are more likely to choose less lethal acts (i.e. overdose)[1].

It’s also an increasingly problematic trend that those ages 10-19 have significantly higher hospitalization and mortality rates from self-harm in the NWHU area. This age group tends to be the most vulnerable due to events associated within this life stage. Challenges such as identity formation, gaining acceptance and approval among peers, and gaining acceptance from families is a stressful time for youth. When stresses become greater than the ability to cope, many youth engage in impulsive intentional self-harm behavior[2].

Hospitalizations

Between 2010 and 2014 the hospitalization rate due to intentional self-harm in the NWHU area was 190.1 per 100,000 per year, which is significantly higher than the provincial rate of 62.3 per 100,000 per year.  This difference is statistically significant, with the NWHU rate being three times as high as the provincial rate.

Rates of hospitalization have been higher in females in the NWHU area. Between 2010 and 2014 their hospitalization rate was 1.7 times as high as the male rate (242.2 per 100,000 per year vs 140.1 per 100,000 per year).​ 

Hospitalization from intentional self-harm in the NWHU area by sex, rates per 100,000, 2010-2014

Source:  Public Health Ontario. Snapshots: Hospitalization for intentional self-harm 2010-2014. Toronto, ON: Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion; 2016 Feb 1 [cited 2016 July 5]. Available from: http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/DataAndAnalytics/Snapshots/Pages/Injury-Hospitalization.aspx​

Source:  Public Health Ontario. Snapshots: Hospitalization for intentional self-harm 2010-2014. Toronto, ON: Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion; 2016 Feb 1 [cited 2016 July 5]. Available from: http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/DataAndAnalytics/Snapshots/Pages/Injury-Hospitalization.aspx

Mortality

Between 2007 and 2011 mortality rates from intentional self-harm in the NWHU have been more than twice as high as the province (21.6 per 100,000 per year vs 9.3 per 100,000 per year). Rates in the NWHU area have been steadily increasing during this time period.

Male mortality rates in the NWHU were twice as high as females during this period (29.0 per 100,000 per year vs 14.0 per 100,000 per year). People 10-19 had the highest mortality rate of any age group (42.7 per 100,000). 

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Source:  Public Health Ontario. Snapshots: Mortality from intentional self-harm 2007-2011. Toronto, ON: Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion; 2016 Feb 1 [cited 2016 July 7]. Available from http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/DataAndAnalytics/Snapshots/Pages/Injury-Mortality.aspx

Mortality from intentional self-harm in the NWHU by sex, rates per 100,000, 2007-2011

 Source:  Public Health Ontario. Snapshots: Mortality from intentional self-harm 2007-2011. Toronto, ON: Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion; 2016 Feb 1 [cited 2016 July 7]. Available from http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/DataAndAnalytics/Snapshots/Pages/Injury-Mortality.aspx

Mortality from falls in the NWHU by age group, rates per 100,000
2007-2011

Source:  Public Health Ontario. Snapshots: Mortality from intentional self-harm 2007-2011. Toronto, ON: Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion; 2016 Feb 1 [cited 2016 July 7]. Available from http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/DataAndAnalytics/Snapshots/Pages/Injury-Mortality.aspx​