Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) represents a serious concern during developmental years, yet research on NSSI patterns remains limited, particularly regarding presentations in emergency departments (ED). This cross-sectional study examined trends in ED visits for NSSI among individuals aged 5 to 19 years in Piedmont, Italy, from 2011 to 2021. All NSSI cases were extracted from the national ministerial ED discharge database using medical records and/or ICD9CM codes. Results were expressed both as population-based rates and as proportions relative to total ED visits.
Overall ED attendance stayed relatively constant at approximately 210,000 visits per year (55% males) throughout 2011–2019, before dropping by half in 2020 and 2021. NSSI population and visit rates began rising from 2013, reaching a peak in 2019, with roughly 25 and 23 NSSI visits per 100,000 ED visits among girls and 76 and 69 among boys. During 2020 and 2021, NSSI visit rates continued to climb, especially among girls and older adolescents. The steady rise in NSSI over the past decade constitutes an escalating public health challenge that requires greater awareness to support timely identification and preventive efforts.
