The number of young children who attempted suicide surged during Covid, with many turning to their parent’s medicine cabinet.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study Tuesday found the number of suicide attempts by poisoning among US kids increased 30 percent from 2019 to 2021.
Younger children were struck hardest by the pandemic, with attempted suicide rates by drug overdose or other poisoning increasing 72 percent.
Commonly used drugs included easily accessible over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Advil and Benadryl. Anti-depressants such as Zoloft and Prozac were also used often.
The pandemic — and subsequent lockdowns and school closures — brought on a wave of mental health issues among the nation’s children. A recent report found 90 percent of schools are reporting increases in behavioral issues as a result.
Children would often reach to Tylenol when attempting suicide, with other over-the-counter drugs such as Advil and Benadryl common choices too
Children were more likely to attempt suicide in the spring and fall months, the CDC found
‘These findings suggest that the mental health of children and adolescents was affected by the pandemic, raising concerns about long-term consequences,’ the CDC researchers wrote.
‘Previous attempted suicide has been found to be the strongest predictor of subsequent death by suicide.’
Covid widely disrupted day-to-day life when it first emerged in early 2020. The virus led to school closures and the halting of other social events across America.
This led to a surge in mental health issues among the world’s youth. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a ‘global mental health crisis’ last year, blaming Covid lockdowns.
The American Academy of Pediatrics declared a ‘national emergency’ in 2021, saying that issues that already lingered before Covid surged once the pandemic came.
In February, the CDC reported that 57 percent of teen girls and 30 percent of teen boys suffered feelings of hopelessness and sadness.
This spurred on a surge in suicide attempts, the CDC reports. Using reports from the National Poison Data System, the found an overall surge in suicide attempts by drug overdose in children.
Overall, suicide attempts using poison increased by a third. These include cases where a child attempted to kill themselves by overdose or using another substance.
These can include household cleaners such as bleach and antifreeze.
However, this data does not include suicides attempts using a weapon, falling or other methods.
The drug reached for most in these cases was acetaminophen, sold under the brand name Tylenol.
In 2021, when suicide attempt rates peaked, more than 50 per every 100,000 US suicide attempts were a 10 to 19 year olds using the drug.
Also common was ibuprofen, known as Advil. Accounting for around 45 per every 100,000 US suicide attempts.
At around 15 attempts per 100,000 suicides were sertraline, sold as Zoloft, fluoxetine, branded as Prozac and diphenhydramine, Benadryl.
The CDC warns that because these drugs can so easily be found in the home, parents and doctors need to do more to monitor children with suicidal thoughts.
‘Three of the top five most frequently identified drugs involved in suspected suicide attempts in this analysis are over-the-counter medications, and two drugs are antidepressant medications,’ researchers wrote.
‘An urgent need exists to strengthen programs focused on identifying and supporting persons at risk for suicide, especially young persons.’
‘Three of the top five most frequently identified drugs involved in suspected suicide attempts in this analysis are over-the-counter medications, and two drugs are antidepressant medications,’ the CDC wrote.
‘An urgent need exists to strengthen programs focused on identifying and supporting persons at risk for suicide, especially young persons.’
The suicides increased most among the youngest children included in the study.
Between 2019 and 2021, the number of 10 to 12 year olds who attempted suicide by poisoning increased from 5,473 to 9,396 — a 72 percent jump.
Slightly older children also experienced a sharp increase. A reported 50,844 children 13 to 15 attempted suicide by poisoning in 2021 — a 49 percent jump from 2019.
There was also a sharp increase among females, from 68,045 in 2019 to 96,962 in 2021 — a 42.4 percent jump in just two years.
Children were also more likely to commit suicide in spring and fall, the data found.
Attempts were at their highest points in May and November, peaking then before falling in subsequent months.
They reached their lowest points in June and July — summer months when children are spending more time at home and with families and friends.
While suicide attempts reached a peak in 2021, these staggering trends continued into the following year.
Among 10 to 12 year olds, suicide attempts by poisoning reached 8,171 in 2022. While this was a fall from the previous year, it still represents a 49 percent jump from 2019.
A reported 45,944 13 to 15 year olds attempted suicide by poisoning in 2022, a 35 percent jump from the final pre-pandemic year.
Among all females in the age group, 83,131 made an attempt last year, a 22 percent rise from before Covid.
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