Intentional Self-Harm Emergency Visits

Overall

The age-standardized emergency visit rate for intentional self-harm in Simcoe Muskoka for the population 10 years and older in 2021 was 183.9 (172.1, 196.3) visits per 100,000 population, which was significantly higher than the Ontario rate of 152.4 (150.3, 154.6) visits per 100,000 population.

The intentional self-harm emergency visit rates in Simcoe Muskoka have not changed significantly since 2017. There was a significant increase in the intentional self-harm emergency visit rate in Simcoe Muskoka from 2009 to 2017.The Simcoe Muskoka rates have been significantly higher than the comparable provincial rates since 2014.

By Sex

In 2021, the age-standardized emergency visit rate for intentional self-harm among Simcoe Muskoka males was 123.4 (110.2, 137.9) visits per 100,000, which was half the female rate of 248.0 (228.4, 268.8) visits per 100,000. The intentional self-harm related emergency visit rates in Simcoe Muskoka, among both males and females, were significantly higher than the comparable provincial rates.

The rate of intentional self-harm related emergency visits among Simcoe Muskoka females declined significantly from 2003 to 2009 before increasing significantly from 2009 to 2017. The rate among Simcoe Muskoka females decreased from 2017 to 2020 before increasing in 2021. The male rate for intentional self-harm emergency visits have not changed significantly since 2003. The female rates have been significantly higher than the male rates since 2003.

By Age Group

The age-specific rate for self-harm related emergency visits between the years 2017 and 2021 (combined) in Simcoe Muskoka was highest for youth (10-19 years) with a rate of 424.8 (402.7, 447.7) visits per 100,000 population, this rate was significantly higher when compared with any other age group over this same period of time. The age-specific intentional self-harm emergency visit rates in Simcoe Muskoka were significantly higher than the comparable provincial rates for those between 10 and 74 years of age; however, the rates in Simcoe Muskoka among seniors (65 years and older) were similar to the comparable provincial rates.

There was a significant downward trend in the intentional self-harm emergency visit rates among youth (10-19 years) in both Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario from 2003 to 2009; however, there was a sharp reversal in this trend from 2009 to 2017 which saw rates more than double over this period. From 2017 to 2021 the local rates did not change significantly. The provincial rates declined significantly from 2017 to 2020 before increasing significantly in 2021. It is unclear what impacts the COVID-19 pandemic had on the local and provincial trends.

The Simcoe Muskoka youth (10-19 years) intentional self-harm emergency department visit rates are substantially higher for females when compared with males and the gap has been widening in recent years. The Simcoe Muskoka female youth intentional self-harm emergency visit rates more than doubled from 260.3 (208.2, 321.5) visits per 100,000 in 2011 to 754.2 (661.4, 856.3) visits per 100,000 in 2017. On a positive note, the 2018 Simcoe Muskoka youth female intentional self-harm emergency visit rate decreased for the first time in seven years when compared with the previous year and remained at this lower level in 2019 and 2020. Unfortunately, the 2021 rate among female youth increased back to the levels observed in 2017.  The rates among Simcoe Muskoka male youth increased significantly from 2011 to 2021..

By Deprivation

For the time period from 2017 to 2021 (combined) in Simcoe Muskoka, intentional self-harm injury and poisoning emergency visit rates among those living in areas with the highest amount of material deprivation were approximately twice as high when compared with those living in areas with the least deprivation (as measured by the 2016 Ontario Marginalization Index).

For more local data on intentional self-harm injuries and poisonings and other health topics see the interactive dashboards available on Simcoe Muskoka HealthMAPS.