# Evolving sex-specific trends in mental health-related emergency department visits (2010–2023): insights from 643 French general hospitals

## TL;DR

This study examines how mental health-related emergency department visits changed over time in France, showing different trends for males and females, especially after the pandemic.

## Contribution

The study reveals evolving sex-specific trends in mental health ED visits in France from 2010 to 2023, including post-pandemic changes.

## Key findings

- Males showed significant increases in affective and non-affective psychotic disorder ED visits since 2010.
- Females experienced disproportionate post-COVID-19 burdens in mental health ED visits.
- Substance use disorder visits among males decreased post-pandemic.

## Abstract

Psychiatric disorders account for a significant proportion of emergency department (ED) visits, with notable sex-specific differences. However, how these disparities have evolved over time, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic, remains poorly understood.

We analyzed yearly ED visit data from 2010 to 2023 for individuals aged 18–65 with diagnoses of substance use, affective, and non-affective psychotic disorders from 643 French general hospitals. Fixed-effects models were used to examine sex-specific trends, with 2010 as the reference year for baseline analyses and 2019 for pandemic-era comparisons.

The mean rate of mental health-related ED visits was 6.8% during the study period. Compared to females, males exhibited a significant increase in ED visits related to affective and non-affective psychotic disorders since 2010. Compared to females, males showed significant reductions in substance use disorder visits post-pandemic (2021–2023 vs. 2019). Affective disorder visits among males transiently decreased in 2022.

Our findings highlight evolving sex-specific trends in mental health-related ED visits, with males experiencing increases since 2010, and females facing disproportionate post-COVID-19 burdens. These findings can guide sex-specific healthcare resource allocation and enhance the delivery of mental health services.