Pediatric suicide attempt and admission to the Intensive Care Unit, before and after the pandemic, at a university hospital in Boyacá, Colombia

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the mental health of children and adolescents, considering that confinement abruptly interrupted their school and social environment, experiencing sensations such as anxiety, irritability, and sad mood, which has been related to the increased in suicide attempts. Objective: to clinically and socio-demographically characterize the pediatric population that suffered a suicide attempt and was admitted to the intensive care unit before and during the pandemic. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study. All patients between 0 and 18 years of age admitted to the intensive care unit due to a suicide attempt were included. Results: 55 patients were included, of whom 82.1% attempted suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic. The adolescents and the female sex were the most affected. Most suicide attempts occurred at home, with intoxication being the most frequent mechanism and medications the most used substance. Gastric lavage was the most frequent treatment, and only one suicide attempt was fatal. Conclusion: During the new coronavirus pandemic, the number of suicide attempts in the pediatric population increased. Adolescents and females were the most frequently affected by suicide attempts, drugs being the substance they use the most due to the ease of access within the home.