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Does Lent affect rates of deliberate self-harm?
N Moloney1,2, K Glynn1, E Harding1
1Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine
|February 15, 2020
Summary
Lent did not reduce self-harm emergency department (ED) visits overall. However, self-harm presentations significantly increased in individuals over 50 during Lent, suggesting it is not a protective factor.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Psychiatry
- Sociology of Religion
Background:
- Religious affiliation is linked to reduced deliberate self-harm, especially during significant religious periods.
- Limited research exists on self-harm trends during the Christian observance of Lent.
- This study investigated self-harm presentations during Lent in Ireland.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if the Christian period of Lent is associated with decreased emergency department (ED) presentations for self-harm.
- To examine if Lent acts as a protective factor against deliberate self-harm.
- To identify any age-specific trends in self-harm during Lent.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of ED presentation data from University Hospital Limerick.
- Data collected covered the period of Lent and the 40 days preceding it.
- Pearson's chi-squared tests were used to compare frequency data.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in overall ED self-harm presentations during Lent compared to the preceding 40 days.
- No change in the methods of self-harm used during Lent.
- A significant increase in self-harm ED attendances was observed in the over 50 age group during Lent.
Conclusions:
- Lent was not found to be a protective factor against deliberate self-harm.
- An increased incidence of self-harm presentations was noted in individuals over 50 during Lent.
- Further large-scale research is recommended to explore these findings and their implications for self-harm prevention and management.
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