Suicide second leading cause of death from 10 years old, alarm over self-harm in children and adolescents

Psychiatric illnesses are the most common among children and adolescents. The first investigated is the smartphone. Not only that. The phenomenon of self-harm in children and adolescents has increased by 60% in recent years, especially after the pandemic. “A survey on the health reports of pediatricians should be included suicidal tendencies”, which is the second leading cause of death between the ages of 10 and 25. This is the appeal of the Cultural Association of Pediatricians launched on the occasion of the 36th National Congress of the ACP just concluded in Jesolo. Taking stock of the worrying phenomenon among the very young is Stefano Vicari, full professor of Child Neuropsychiatry, director of the Complex Operating Unit of Child Neuropsychiatry at the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital in Rome, who recommends to pediatricians and parents: “Check the bodies of children and teenagers, today they start ‘cutting’ themselves in fifth grade“.

The phenomenon of self-harm among the very young exploded after the Sars-CoV-2 health emergency. But “the real turning point – explains Vicari – was 2013. That year at the Bambino Gesù psychiatric emergency room the average stood – consistent with the rest of Italy – at 250 consultations per year, less than one per day. But from that year onwards a growth began that brought us to the dawn of the pandemic, in 2019, to a thousand consultations per year. In 2022 and 2023 we exceeded 1850 consultations per year, 5 per day, and of these consultations 60% concerned self-harm, a phenomenon supported by depression and mood disorders, and antechamber of suicide”.

But what exactly happened in 2013? “During that year – continues Vicari – there was a collapse in smartphone prices. New addictions, behavioral addictions, see the cell phone among the main risk factors. We pay such a high price because we do not educate children. It is the gift of the first communion. Save the Children reports talk about children who at 6/7 years old already spend many hours in front of devices. It takes away space from recreational activities, increases sedentary lifestyle and generates real dependence, with the activation of the reward circuits. This is followed by behaviors of craving, spasmodic search; aggression, when it is taken away; clear signs of real dependence”.

Alarming data

If the phenomenon of self-harm was around 20-30% before the pandemic, now we are at 40%: almost one in two boys. At least 10% of children – it emerged from the conference – and 18% of adolescents have a mental disorder, the most widespread illness in this age group. Females are much more at risk. “The phenomenon must be monitored because it is the first risk factor for attempted suicide and suicide is the second cause of death between the ages of 10 and 25 – underlines Vicari – It becomes essential that in the health checks the pediatrician investigates, in a child over 10, whether he has ever thought of causing his own death. Just as signs of self-harm must be looked for. We need a strong collaboration with pediatricians, who in turn train parents to promote mental health and to understand what the first signs of distress are and why, at the same time, they learn not to misunderstand the concept of privacy, and regularly check the telephone, activities, behaviors, acquaintances and body of their children, until they reach maturity”.

The signs

Any advice for parents? “Educate, set rules, don’t be afraid to say ‘no’ and be the first to use devices responsibly” warns the specialist. And again: “Don’t talk a lot but set an example – continues Vicari – At dinner and lunch, take the phone away and don’t waste time with them chatting. Educate and be witnesses of the values ​​you believe in and intercept signs of discomfort. The changes should worry us: you don’t do well at school anymore, you don’t sleep well anymore, you eat less, you’re irritable. And ‘browse’ your children. Privacy is for adults, body control and device control is essential. Tell them: I will watch what sites you visit and your chats, because they are dangerous tools. Even respecting all this, I would not give a smartphone before the age of 12, and never access to social media before the age of 14/16, as highlighted by the most recent studies”.