Thousands of Canadians a year are hospitalized or die after intentionally harming themselves
Media contact: Kristen Cockburn
The following page discusses suicide and self-harm. Help is available 24/7 if you need it:
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- Your local crisis centre
- : 1-800-668-6868
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- Adults can text 741741
- Youth can text 686868
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Nearly 25,000 Canadians either died by suicide or stayed in hospital after intentionally harming themselves in 2018–2019, our analysis shows. This is the equivalent of almost 70 self-harm events every day.
Regardless of suicidal intent, acts of self-harm signal severe distress. Looking at the number of deaths and hospitalizations for self-harm, and understanding who is more likely to self-harm, can help inform targeted prevention efforts and drive improvements in access to community mental health services. —&²Ô²ú²õ±è;Tracy Johnson, Director, ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨ System Analysis and Emerging Issues
Facts and figures about self-harm
High rates of hospital stays and deaths from intentional self-harm may signal a lack of appropriate mental health care or addictions services, treatments and community supports.
Many factors may influence the rate of hospital stays for and deaths from self-harm, including
- Timely access to services in the community
- Stigma and cultural perceptions
- Variation in care practices between provinces and territories
Hospitalization rates for self-harm were higher for females than males across most age groups, with the highest rates seen in young women. Rates were 3 times higher for girls and women age 10 to 24 than for males in the same age group.
The picture looks different, however, when looking at deaths from self-harm. Suicide rates were higher for males, affecting men age 45 to 64 the most.
The rates of hospital stays were twice as high for Canadians living in the lowest-income neighbourhoods as for those living in the highest-income neighbourhoods.
Individuals living in rural or remote areas were more likely to have a hospital stay for self-harm compared with those in urban areas, partly because there may be fewer community services in rural areas.
COVID-19 and mental health and addictions
This data pre-dates COVID-19, and the mental health impact of the pandemic is not yet fully known. Our latest data represents a baseline from which progress can be measured, including Canadians’ access to timely mental health and additions services.
Related resource
- Shared ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨ Priorities (learn more about our area of work)
Media contact: Kristen Cockburn
How to cite:
Canadian Institute for ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨ Information. Thousands of Canadians a year are hospitalized or die after intentionally harming themselves . Accessed April 17, 2025.
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