School Closures and ED Visits for Suicidality in Youths Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Emergency department (ED) visits for suspected suicide attempts among persons aged 12 to 25 years increased after May 2020. The public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic included widespread school closures. Schools offer well-documented support for youths and families. Describing the association between pandemic-related school closures and suicidality may inform future public health policy. Our study analyzed rates of youth ED suicidality visits (EDSVs), defined as visits for suicide and self-injury attempts, alongside patterns of school closure for Massachusetts and Texas.