Main findings

In 2021, the National Self-Harm Registry Ireland recorded 11,415 presentations to hospitals as a result of self-harm, involving 8,595 individuals. Adjusting for the absence of data from two hospitals, we estimate that there was a total of 12,661 self-harm presentations made by 9,533 individuals in 2021. The age-standardised rate of individuals presenting to hospital following self-harm in 2021 was 196 per 100,000.1 This was 2% lower than the rate in 2020, and 12% lower than the peak rate recorded by the Registry in 2010 (223 per 100,000).

In 2021, the national female rate of self-harm was 232 per 100,000, 4% higher than 2020. The male rate of self-harm in 2021 was 160 per 100,000, 9% lower than 2020. The male rate in 2021 is as low as has been recorded by the Registry. Consistent with previous years, the peak rate for women was in the 15-19 years age group at 888 per 100,000. The peak rate for men in 2021 was among 20-24 year-olds at 387 per 100,000. In 2020, the peak rate was among 25-29 year-olds, though in the years prior to that, the peak rate for men was consistently among 20-24 year-olds. These rates imply that one in every 113 girls in the age group 15-19 years, and one in every 258 men in the age group 20-24 years presented to hospital with self-harm in 2021. There were 759 presentations made by residents of homeless hostels/ shelters and people of no fixed abode in 2021, accounting for approximately 6.6% of all presentations recorded by the Registry. This is comparable to the 7.5% reported in 2020.

Consistent with previous years, intentional drug overdose was the most common method of selfharm, involved in almost two-thirds (61%) of selfharm presentations in 2021. Minor tranquilisers were the most common drug type used which is the same as previous years. Self-cutting was the other most common method, recorded in 31% of all presentations. Attempted hanging was involved in 9% of all self-harm presentations (13% for men, 5% for women). Attempted drowning was involved in 4% of presentations and, although rare as a method of self-harm, self-poisoning was involved in 2% of presentations. Alcohol was involved in 30% of all presentations and was more often involved in male than female presentations (36% and 26 respectively). In general, the type of method used in self-harm was similar to recent years.