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).
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.
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
Sex |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
Average |
Males |
127.8 |
157.2 |
146.2 |
153.1 |
116.3 |
140.1 |
Females |
224.4 |
240.0 |
222.5 |
232.4 |
292.9 |
242.2 |
---|
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
Hospitalization from intentional self-harm in the NWHU by age group, rates per 100,000, 2010-2014
Age Group |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
Average |
0-19 |
233.6 |
220.4 |
301.9 |
386.9 |
500.0 |
328.6 |
20-44 |
247.4 |
282.3 |
258.9 |
231.9 |
222.4 |
248.6 |
45-64 |
56.0 |
85.6 |
42.9 |
64.8 |
47.6 |
59.4 |
65-74 |
50.4 |
16.3 |
15.6 |
14.8 |
14.4 |
22.3 |
75+ |
0.0 |
39.4 |
0.0 |
19.3 |
19.0 |
15.5 |
---|
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).

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
Sex |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
Average |
Males |
15.3 |
31.4 |
19.6 |
37.7 |
40.8 |
29.0 |
Females |
4.3 |
12.6 |
22.5 |
12.9 |
17.8 |
14.0 |
---|
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
Age |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
Average |
10-19 |
15.7 |
56.2 |
49.1 |
33.4 |
59.3 |
42.7 |
20-44 |
11.4 |
19.5 |
27.9 |
36.5 |
28.6 |
24.8 |
45-64 |
4.6 |
22.3 |
4.4 |
4.3 |
21.4 |
11.4 |
65-74 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
50.4 |
16.3 |
13.3 |
75+ |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
19.7 |
4.0 |
---|
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