Over 2500 people were hospitalised for more than two days after intentionally injuring themselves in 2007, with women almost twice as likely to do it as men, according to figures released today.
A report by the Ministry of Health called Intentional Self-Harm Hospitalisations 2007 (Provisional), showed that 2678 people spent more than 48 hours in hospital.
However, the results show the number decreased from 3030 in 1996.
Mental Health director Dr David Chaplow said this was consistent with the declining pattern over the past 11 years.
“Self-harm hospitalisation rates have dropped by 25.6 per cent for the total population and 40.1 percent for those aged 15 to 24 years old since 1996," he said.
For males, the highest rate was among the 35-39 year age group while women aged between 15 and 19 were the most at-risk group for females.
Maori, at 75.1 hospitalisations per 100,000 people, were more likely to self-harm than non-Maori, with rates of 61.6 per 100,000.
The Health Ministry said anti-suicide initiatives included better follow-up care, mental health awareness campaigns and addressing suicide rates among the Maori community in particular.
The data does not include those who harmed themselves but spent less than two days in hospital or readmissions less than two days after being released.
The Health Ministry said this was due to differences in the way District Health Boards recorded some of these events although this had now been addressed.
By removing the data, the ministry says it allowed them to make more accurate comparisons.
Source: NZ National Health
By Micahel Fox
0 comments:
Post a Comment