INTRODUCTION: Suicide constitutes a public health problem. There is an increase in adolescents admitted to health services for suicidal attempts and self-harming behavior in recent years. Associated with little knowledge about the prevalence of suicidal and self-harming behaviors. This work seeks to describe the epidemiology of suicidality in Chilean adolescents between the years 2019-2022. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive-observational study. Includes admissions to the mental health program (PROSAM) for suicidal attempts and ideation, deaths due to suicide, hospitalizations and consultations to the emergency department for intentionally self-inflicted injuries of adolescents, aged 10-19, in Chile, between the years 2019-2022. Data obtained from a public database, did not require evaluation by an ethical-scientific committee. RESULTS: In the period studied, there were 5,818 admissions of adolescents to PROSAM for suicidal ideation and 4,086 for suicidal attempts, 8,429 hospital discharges, 16,296 emergency visits for self-harm and 366 deaths due to suicide. The year with the highest number of events and rates in all variables was 2022. Adolescents between 15-19 years old had higher incidences. Suicides were higher in men and the rest of the variables in women. DISCUSSION: The increase in suicides in 2022 differs from the decrease maintained by Chilean adolescents in previous years. The female predominance in ideation, suicide attempt and self-harm, unlike suicide, which is higher in men, coincides with the literature. Suicidal behaviors, self-harm and suicide are increasing alarmingly in Chilean adolescents, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, coinciding with international studies.
Walter Osorio, Universidad de Concepción. Facultad de Medicina
Interno de Medicina
Macarena Sanhueza García, Universidad de Concepción. Facultad de Medicina
Interno de Medicina
Karla Muñoz, Universidad de Concepción. Facultad de Medicina
Interno de Medicina
Andrea Spano, Universidad de Concepción. Facultad de Medicina
Interno de Medicina
Lucas Valenzuela, Universidad de Concepción. Facultad de Medicina
Interno de Medicina
Altmetrics
How to Cite
Osorio, W., Sanhueza García, M., Muñoz, K. ., Spano, A. ., Valenzuela, L., & Sanhueza, N. (2024). Descripción Epidemiológica de Suicidalidad de adolescentes chilenos entre los años 2019-2022: un problema de salud pública aún no resuelto. Revista Chilena De Salud Pública, 28, e72669. https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-5281.2024.72669
