Self-harm & suicide: Examining the societal consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 response measures have increased social isolation and stress and made it harder to get mental health care. These factors may exacerbate existing mental illness and contribute to heightened risk of self-harm and suicide. • Self-harm occurs most frequently among young females and non-binary individuals, while the suicide rate is highest among middle-aged males. Populations who have been subject to marginalization, such as transgender and  non-binary individuals, people with low income, and people with mental illness are disproportionately affected by both. As a result of cultural genocide, intergenerational trauma, and structural racism, Indigenous peoples are  also disproportionately affected by both self-harm and suicide. These patterns apply both before and during the pandemic. • Self-harm hospitalization and suicide rates in BC both decreased slightly during the initial months of the pandemic, then increased to levels similar to those seen prior to the pandemic. These findings should be interpreted with caution, however, given data limitations and delays in reporting.