The number of American children who attempted suicide by overdosing on over-the-counter or easily accessible medications increased sharply over the pandemic, a new research reveals.
The researchers from the University of Virginia Health System checked the 2021 reported suicide attempts data provided to the National Poison Data System and found that there was a dramatic overall 30 percent increase in the rate of suicide attempts by overdose and poisoning among kids and teens ages ten to nineteen during the first full year of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was in 2021 as compared in 2019.
Their research led them to conclude that the country is facing a "pediatric mental health crisis," to which parents, schools and the government should be alarmed and warned at the "significant," increase of suicide attempts in a young population, especially that it is not slowing down anytime soon, US News reported.
"These findings suggest that the mental health of children and adolescents might still be affected by the pandemic, raising concerns about long-term consequences, especially given that previous attempted suicide has been found to be the strongest predictor of subsequent death by suicide," the researchers wrote as part of the result of their study.
Alarming data discovered
Specifically, a 73 percent increase was discovered on the rate of attempted suicide by intentional poisoning among kids ages ten to twelve, 49 percent increase among teens ages 13 to 15, and nearly 37 percent among female teens ages ten to nineteen in 2021 as compared to 2019.
Another alarming data found was that the 81 percent of suspected suicide attempts between adolescents ages ten to 19 were girls, a four percent increase from 2019 data.
Further, while there was an increase of suspected suicide attempts in 2021, the total number of calls to the nation's poison centers decreased at three percent from 2019 to 2021, according to UVA Today.
Tylenol and Advil, two of the most commonly available over-the counter pain relievers, are also the two most common medication used in the reported suicide attempts. The next most utilized medications are two antidepressants with generic names Zoloft and Prozac along with the antihistamine Benadryl.
Read More: Suicide Can Be Contagious; Experts Warn Parents with Teenage Children
Recommended solutions
"As a society, we need to come together in a multi-disciplinary manner and strategize on how to best mitigate this rapidly escalating threat to our youth," declared Dr. Christopher Holstege, both chief of the Division of Medical Toxicology at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and medical director of the Blue Ridge Poison Center at UVA Health.
Coming together may look like how UVA Children's and Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital plan to build a new outpatient clinic in Albemarle County to efficiently respond to the pediatric neurodevelopmental and behavioral health care needs in Central Virginia.
Moreover, the researchers highly suggest that families, schools, mental health professionals and public health leaders should come together and create a "comprehensive approach to suicide prevention."
On the home front, on the other hand, parents are encouraged to keep over-the-counter medications in safe storage at home, while schools and government should heighten public education initiatives about this topic.
Lastly, there should be an increase in the availability of assistance in case of an overdose suicide attempt through the country's poison centers by calling 800-222-1222 as well as aggressive promotion of the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for teens and adults going through a mental health crisis.
Related article: Parents of 16-Year-Old Girl Who Committed Suicide Finally Speaks Out
