scholarly journals Suicide trends diverge by method: Swiss suicide rates 1969–2005

2010 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 129-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Hepp ◽  
M. Ring ◽  
A. Frei ◽  
W. Rössler ◽  
U. Schnyder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Assisted Suicide ◽  
Heterogeneous Population ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Preventive Strategies ◽  
Vehicle Exhaust ◽  
Suicide Methods ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Method Substitution ◽  
Over Time

AbstractWe examined the change in Swiss suicide rates since 1969, breaking down the rates according to the method used. The descriptive analyses of the main suicide methods are presented. The suicide rates reached a peak in the late 1970s/early 1980s and declined in more recent years. Firearm suicides and suicides by falls were the exception and sustained their upwards trend until the 1990s. Suicide by vehicle exhaust asphyxiation showed a rapid decline following the introduction of catalytic converters in motor vehicles. No substantial method substitution was observed. Suicide by poisoning declined in the 1990s but rose again following an increase in assisted suicide in somatically incurable patients. Suicide is too often regarded as a homogeneous phenomenon. With regard to the method they choose, suicide victims are a heterogeneous population and it is evident that different suicide methods are chosen by different people. A better understanding of the varying patterns of change over time in the different suicide methods used may lead to differentiated preventive strategies.

scholarly journals Are young female suicides increasing? A comparison of sex-specific rates and characteristics of youth suicides in Australia over 2004–2014

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Stefanac ◽  
Sarah Hetrick ◽  
Carol Hulbert ◽  
Matthew J. Spittal ◽  
Katrina Witt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Trends ◽  
Torres Strait Islander ◽  
Young Female ◽  
Youth Suicide ◽  
Suicide Methods ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Young Females ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Torres Strait ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background Australian mortality statistics suggest that young female suicides have increased since 2004 in comparison to young males, a pattern documented across other Western high-income countries. This may indicate a need for more targeted and multifaceted youth suicide prevention efforts. However, sex-based time trends are yet to be tested empirically within a comprehensive Australian sample. The aim of this study was to examine changes over time in sex-based rates and characteristics of all suicides among young people in Australia (2004–2014). Methods National Coronial Information System and Australian Bureau of Statistics data provided annual suicide counts and rates for 10–24-year-olds in Australia (2004–2014), stratified by sex, age group, Indigenous status and methods. Negative binomial regressions estimated time trends in population-stratified rates, and multinomial logistic regressions estimated time trends by major suicide methods (i.e., hanging, drug poisoning). Results Between 2004 and 2014, 3709 young Australians aged 10–24 years died by suicide. Whilst, overall, youth suicide rates did not increase significantly in Australia between 2004 and 2014, there was a significant increase in suicide rates for females (incident rate ratio [IRR] 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01 to 1.06), but not males. Rates were consistently higher among Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander youth, males, and in older (20–24-years) as compared to younger (15–19 years) age groups. Overall, the odds of using hanging as a method of suicide increased over time among both males and females, whilst the odds of using drug-poisoning did not change over this period. Conclusions We showed that suicide rates among young females, but not young males, increased over the study period. Patterns were observed in the use of major suicide methods with hanging the most frequently used method among both sexes and more likely among younger and Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander groups. Findings highlight the need to broaden current conceptualizations of youth suicide to one increasingly involving young females, and strengthen the case for a multifaceted prevention approach that capitalize on young females’ greater help-seeking propensity.

scholarly journals Comparison of rates of suicide methods used by the elderly in England and Wales

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1198-1200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Buckley ◽  
Ajit Shah
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Older People ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Suicide Methods ◽  
Important Contributor ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Over Time

Because suicide rates have traditionally increased with age (Shah and De, 1998; Shah, 2007), the observed reduction in suicide rates among older people may be an important contributor to the U.K. government's target to reduce suicide rates in the general population by at least one-sixth of the 1996 baseline by 2010 (Department of Health, 1999). Previous studies have observed that suicide rates in older people have declined in both sexes over the 12-year period (1985–1996) and 24-year period (1979–2002) in England and Wales (Hoxey and Shah, 2000; Shah et al., 2001), although the rates are still considerably higher than those among younger adults. It is believed that a better understanding of the methods used by older people for suicide may lead to the development of targeted preventative strategies, which are expected to meet the challenge of sustaining this observed decline in suicide rates among older people over time in England and Wales (Lindesay, 1991; Dennis and Lindesay, 1995).

The Effect of Catalytic Converter Legislation on Suicide Rates in Grampian and Scotland 1980–2003

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 3-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
GD Skilling ◽  
PD Sclare ◽  
SJ Watt ◽  
S Fielding
Keyword(s):  
Attempted Suicide ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Catalytic Converter ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Exhaust Gas ◽  
Vehicle Exhaust ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Gas Inhalation ◽  
Method Substitution

Objective To examine the effect of catalytic converter legislation on suicide rates in Grampian and Scotland since its implementation in 1993. Methods 1. Population study in Grampian and Scotland using national population and mortality statistics for 1980 to 2003. 2. Retrospective, controlled cohort study of individuals who had unsuccessfully attempted suicide by motor vehicle exhaust gassing to examine the theory of method substitution. Results There was a significant fall in suicides by motor vehicle exhaust gas inhalation in Scotland and Grampian following the introduction of compulsory catalytic converter legislation. However, in the same time period, there was a significant increase in numbers of suicides by hanging and total suicide rates in Scotland. There was a non-significant trend in a small sample of patients from a local hyperbaric unit for an increased rate of subsequent completed suicide between those who had previously attempted suicide by motor vehicle exhaust gas inhalation and controls. Conclusions Catalytic converter legislation has resulted in a decrease in the number of suicides by motor vehicle exhaust gas inhalation. Overall suicide rates have not decreased. There is evidence to suggest that those who would have previously committed suicide by motor vehicle exhaust gas inhalation find alternative methods of suicide, so called ‘method substitution’. Initiatives to reduce suicide rates should be directed at those means that are used by impulsive suicide attempters, as other, determined individuals, will commit suicide by another method.

Domestic Integration and Suicide in the Provinces of Canada

Crisis ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoon A. Leenaars ◽  
David Lester
Keyword(s):  
Social Factors ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Negative Association ◽  
Birth Rates ◽  
Marriage Rates ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
The Social ◽  
Divorce Rates ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Over Time

Canada's rate of suicide varies from province to province. The classical theory of suicide, which attempts to explain the social suicide rate, stems from Durkheim, who argued that low levels of social integration and regulation are associated with high rates of suicide. The present study explored whether social factors (divorce, marriage, and birth rates) do in fact predict suicide rates over time for each province (period studied: 1950-1990). The results showed a positive association between divorce rates and suicide rates, and a negative association between birth rates and suicide rates. Marriage rates showed no consistent association, an anomaly as compared to research from other nations.

Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation in Sri Lanka

Crisis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudath Samaraweera ◽  
Athula Sumathipala ◽  
Sisira Siribaddana ◽  
S. Sivayogan ◽  
Dinesh Bhugra
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
General Population ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
National Average ◽  
The West ◽  
Suicide Methods ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Completed Suicide ◽  
The World

Background: Suicidal ideation can often lead to suicide attempts and completed suicide. Studies have shown that Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world but so far no studies have looked at prevalence of suicidal ideation in a general population in Sri Lanka. Aims: We wanted to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation by randomly selecting six Divisional Secretariats (Dss) out of 17 in one district. This district is known to have higher than national average rates of suicide. Methods: 808 participants were interviewed using Sinhala versions of GHQ-30 and Beck’s Scale for Suicidal Ideation. Of these, 387 (48%) were males, and 421 (52%) were female. Results: On Beck’s Scale for Suicidal Ideation, 29 individuals (4%) had active suicidal ideation and 23 (3%) had passive suicidal ideation. The active suicidal ideators were young, physically ill and had higher levels of helplessness and hopelessness. Conclusions: The prevalence of suicidal ideation in Sri Lanka is lower than reported from the West and yet suicide rates are higher. Further work must explore cultural and religious factors.

The role of restricting access to potentially lethal medication in suicide prevention

2021 ◽  
pp. 709-712
Author(s):  
Cyril Höschl ◽  
Pavla Čermáková
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Suicide Methods ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Life Saving ◽  
Health Strategy ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
Restrictive Measures ◽  
Lethal Means

Overdose with medications is a common method of suicide. Reviews of suicide prevention strategies confirmed that restricting access to lethal means is effective in preventing suicides. Nevertheless, there have not been any randomized controlled trials, proving that restriction of the access to toxic medications decreases suicide rates. Existing evidence is based mainly on observational, ecological, and cohort studies. Factors such as better mental health conditions, effective treatment of depression, and improvement in socioeconomic status, may also contribute to decreasing suicide rates. Restrictive measures will have a large effect if the respective method is frequent and lethal. Although there are some concerns about substitution of suicide methods if access to a specific drug is restricted, many studies suggest a life-saving potential. Restrictive measures represent an effective and feasible public health strategy for suicide prevention, particularly in individuals that carry out briefly planned impulsive acts, and in combination with other interventions.

Suicides in Los Angeles County in Relation to the Northridge Earthquake

2004 ◽  
Vol 19 (04) ◽  
pp. 307-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberley Shoaf ◽  
Cary Sauter ◽  
Linda B. Bourque ◽  
Christian Giangreco ◽  
Billie Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Los Angeles ◽  
Rare Events ◽  
The United States ◽  
Suicide Mortality ◽  
Northridge Earthquake ◽  
Systematic Relationship ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Over Time

AbstractIntroduction:Recently, there has been speculation that suicide rates increase after a disaster. Yet, in spite of anecdotal reports, it is difficult to demonstrate a systematic relationship between suicide and disaster. Suicides are fairly rare events, and single disasters rarely have covered geographic areas with large enough populations to be able to find statistically significant differences in such relatively rare events (annual suicide rates in the United States average 12/100,000 population).Hypothesis:Suicide rates increased in the three calendar years (1994–1996) following the Northridge earthquake as compared to the three calendar years (1991–1993) prior to the earthquake. Likewise the suicide rates for 1993 are compared with the rates in 1994. By looking at the suicide rates in a three-year period after the earthquake, the additional disasters that befell Southern California in 1995 and 1996 may have had an additive effect on psychological disorders and suicide rates that can be measured.Methods:Data on suicide mortality were compiled for the years from 1989 through 1996. Differences in rates for 1993 compared with 1994 and for three-year periods before and after the earthquake (1991–1993 vs. 1994 –1996) were analyzed using az-statistic.Results:There is a statistically significant difference in the rates for the years prior to the earthquake (1991–1993) when pooled and compared to the suicide rates for the years after the earthquake (1994–1996). The rates of suicide are lower in the three years following the earthquake (11.85 vs. 13.12/100,000 population) than they are in the three years prior to the earthquake (z= -3.85,p<0.05). Likewise, there is a similar difference when comparing 1993 to 1994 (11.77 vs. 13.84,z= -3.57,p<0.05). The patterns of suicide remain similar over time, with males and non-Hispanic Whites having the highest rates of suicide.Conclusion:It does not appear that suicide rates increase as a result of earthquakes in this setting. This study demonstrates that the psychological impacts of the Northridge earthquake did not culminate in an increase in the rates of suicide.

Performance of Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Pavement in Reduction of Motor Vehicles’ Exhaust Gas

2020 ◽  
Vol 2674 (11) ◽  
pp. 512-519
Author(s):  
Zhuoying Jiang ◽  
Xiong (Bill) Yu
Keyword(s):  
Absorption Spectrum ◽  
Visible Light ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Computational Simulation ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Traffic Density ◽  
Ultraviolet Region ◽  
Exhaust Gas ◽  
Vehicle Exhaust ◽  
Three Dimensional Model

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a widely used photocatalyst that can oxidize motor vehicle exhaust, for example, carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons, and sulfur dioxide, under the irradiation of sunlight. It has been reported that nano-scale TiO2 particles can be effectively used to modify the concrete-asphalt pavement, and make it as a photocatalytic pavement. However, the pure TiO2 additive limits its absorption spectrum to the ultraviolet region, which only occupies a small portion of sunlight irradiance. To increase the utilization of the full spectrum of sunlight, it has been demonstrated that doping TiO2 with substances such as Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), or metal can reduce the band-gap and extend the threshold of the absorption spectrum to the visible light region. Therefore, doped-TiO2 has a better photocatalytic performance under sunlight irradiation. This paper conducted computational simulation of the kinetics of photocatalytic pavement to quantify the efficiency of doped-TiO2 embedded pavement in reducing exhaust gas from motor vehicles. A three-dimensional model is developed on a section of local road with doped-TiO2 embedded pavement. The effects of doped-TiO2 concentration, daylight conditions, and traffic flow conditions on the removal of NOx and CO were studied. The results indicate that the pavement with doped-TiO2 coating is effective to remove CO and NOx under different traffic density and daylight intensity conditions. Compared with UV activated TiO2, visible-light-activated doped-TiO2 features significantly higher removal efficiency of poisonous exhaustive gas including NOx and CO.

scholarly journals Impact of Fiscal Decentralization on Motor Vehicle Taxation in the Slovak Republic

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimír Konečný ◽  
Jozef Gnap ◽  
Ivana Šimková
Keyword(s):  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
Fiscal Decentralization ◽  
Slovak Republic ◽  
Current Level ◽  
The Self ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Tax Burden ◽  
Tax Rates ◽  
Impact Studies ◽  
Over Time

Abstract The article deals with the motor vehicle tax in relation with fiscal decentralization, particularly from 2005 with competence delegated to the self-governing regions in the area of motor vehicle tax. The result of this provision in the field of fiscal decentralization is increasing of differences in the motor vehicle tax burden in self-governing regions of Slovakia. The paper is the result of solving a series of impact studies solved by the authors in this field. Gradually over time from the transfer of competences in setting tax rates on motor vehicles to self-governing regions and usage of the incomes of this tax can realistically assess the development and impact of this element of fiscal decentralization in the Slovak Republic as well as propose a solution of resulting situation. The aim is to eliminate differences in motor vehicle tax burden at regional and interstate level while maintaining the current level of tax revenues of self-governing regions.

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