Non-fatal self-harm and suicide following postpartum psychiatric emergency department visits: A population-based retrospective cohort study

In a population -based cohort of postpartum individuals in Ontario, Canada, this study aimed to determine the risk of non -fatal self -harm and suicide within one year of an initial postpartum psychiatric emergency department (ED) visit (2008-2020), and the key associated factors. Of 16,475 postpartum individuals with psychiatric ED visits, 714 (4.3 %) had non -fatal self -harm within one year, and 23 (0.15 %) died by suicide. Risk was substantially higher for those with self -harm at the initial presentation. Further efforts to connect individuals with postpartum psychiatric ED visits with needed inpatient care and outpatient follow-up are required to reduce non -fatal self -harm and suicide risk.