Large Increase Shown in Emergency Department Visits for Suicidal Thoughts

The rate of emergency department (ED) visits by adults with suicidal thoughts increased by 12 percent on average each year from 2006 to 2013, more than doubling during that seven-year period, according to a new AHRQ statistical brief. Among ED patients with suicidal thoughts in 2013, the most common mental health-related conditions were mood disorders (76 percent), substance-related disorders (43 percent) or alcohol-related disorders (30 percent). Patients were more likely to be male, between the ages of 18 and 64, and either uninsured or covered by Medicaid. About 12 percent of patients visited the ED with a co-occurring injury, and such injuries were more common among females. For more information, access the statistical brief, Emergency Department Visits Related to Suicidal Ideation, 2006-2013. The analysis follows previous AHRQ publications on suicide, including a recent evidence report on youth suicide prevention and a chartbook providing data on suicide related to mental health and substance abuse.

Highlights

From 2006 to 2013, the rate of ED visits related to suicidal ideation among adults increased by 12 percent on average annually. By 2013, 1 percent of all adult ED visits involved suicidal ideation.

In 2013, compared with other ED visits, those related to suicidal ideation were more likely to be among patients who were male, aged 18-64 years and uninsured or covered by Medicaid.

In 2013, most suicidal ideation-related ED visits were admitted to the same hospital or transferred to another facility (72 percent).

Among admissions to the same hospital, the average length of inpatient stay increased from 5.1 to 5.6 days from 2006 to 2013, and aggregate costs increased four-fold (from $600 million to $2.2 billion).

Among suicidal ideation-related ED visits, 12 percent of patients had a co-occurring injury. Injuries were more common among females than among males.

Three-quarters of ED visits with suicidal ideation had an associated diagnosis of mood disorders, 43 percent had a substance-related disorder, and 30 percent had an alcohol-related disorder.