All data was pulled from Wellington Dufferin Guelph Report Cards on the Wellbeing of Children

About the Measure

Self-harm refers to someone hurting themselves on purpose.[2] Data on this measure comes from Intellihealth, an online database managed by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. This rate represents the number of hospitalizations for intentional self-harm among children and youth, aged seven to 18, during a given year, expressed per 10,000. Data is not available for children aged birth to six given the low number of hospitalizations for intentional self harm.

Key Findings

Recent data shows that youth, aged 14 to 18, (28.19 per 10,000) have much higher rates of hospitalization for intentional self-harm compared to children, aged seven to 13 (2.11 per 10,000). Since 2009, rates of hospitalization for intentional self-harm harm have increased among both age groups.

Females, aged 14 to 18, (40.34 per 10,000) have higher hospitalization rates for intentional self-harm compared to males of the same age (16.06 per 10,000).

Limitations

Hospitalization data will not capture those treated and released from emergency departments, those treated in doctors’ offices or clinics, or those who did not seek treatment in hospital. It is important to note that this data only provides data on self-harm practices that require medical attention. It is likely that many more youth self-harm but do not go to the hospital. As a result, the rate of hospitalizations for intentional self-harm among children and youth likely underestimates the true prevalence of self-harm in our community.

Please visit http://www.wdgreportcard.com/en/data-portal/hospitalizations.aspx for more information..

Accidental Poisonings

Between 2010 and 2015, 997 emergency room visits were caused by accidental poisonings across Wellington County. Eighty-three people were hospitalized staying for a total of 626 days.