Suicide in cities

Urban life has been linked to stress and illness, higher levels of mental health disorders, and altered human brain responses. This chapter investigates the complex relationship between city life and suicide. Suicide rates have been historically higher in urban areas, but a trend of decline in urban suicide rates and an increase in rural trends has been observed. According to Durkheim’s theory, suicide rates are dependent on levels of social integration at a societal level rather than on human’s mental states. This has led some researchers to argue that rural areas have become more socially isolated and have lower levels of social integration. Research on urban areas suggests that suicides are associated with social fragmentation, social deprivation and poverty. Prevention of access to means has been shown to be effective in preventing urban suicides. A combination of the most appropriate strategies should be tailored to the city or suburb context.

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Rural and Urban Suicide in South Korea

Psychological Reports ◽

10.2466/12.17.pr0.111.5.495-497 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 111 (2) ◽

pp. 495-497 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

B. C. Ben Park ◽

David Lester

Keyword(s):

South Korea ◽

Suicide Rate ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

The Elderly ◽

Suicide Rates ◽

Rural And Urban

Suicide rates in 2005 in South Korea were higher in rural areas than in urban areas. Those in rural areas more often used pesticides and chemicals as a method for suicide, and there was a greater proportion of men and the elderly, both groups at higher risk for suicide in South Korea. These three factors may account for the high rural suicide rate in South Korea.

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Environmental Characteristics Associated with Older Adults’ Social Participation: The Contribution of Sociodemography and Transportation in Metropolitan, Urban, and Rural Areas

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17228399 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (22) ◽

pp. 8399

Author(s):

Mélanie Levasseur ◽

Daniel Naud ◽

Jean-François Bruneau ◽

Mélissa Généreux

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Social Participation ◽

Public Transportation ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Social Deprivation ◽

Metropolitan Areas ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Local Environment ◽

Environmental Characteristics

Although social participation fosters older adults’ health, little is known about which environmental characteristics are related to greater participation in social activities. The Canadian Community Health Survey (n = 2737), a transportation survey, and multiple secondary data sources were used to identify the environmental characteristics associated with older Quebecers’ social participation according to living area. Greater social participation was associated with: (1) a higher concentration of older adults (IRR = 2.172 (95% CI 1.600, 2.948); p < 0.001), more kilometers traveled by paratransit (IRR = 1.714 (95% CI 1.286, 2.285); p < 0.01), a lack of medical clinics (IRR = 0.730 (95% CI 0.574, 0.930); p = 0.01), and more funded home adaptations (IRR = 1.170 (95% CI 1.036, 1.320); p = 0.01) in large metropolitan areas; (2) larger paratransit fleets (IRR = 1.368 (95% CI 1.044, 1.791); p = 0.02) and a lower density of road intersections (IRR = 0.862 (95% CI 0.756, 0.982); p = 0.03) in regular metropolitan areas; (3) less social deprivation (IRR = 1.162 (95% CI 1.025, 1.318); p = 0.02) in urban areas; and (4) a higher concentration of older populations (IRR = 2.386 (95% CI 1.817, 3.133); p < 0.001) in rural areas. According to these findings, social participation interventions should target the local environment—for example, by providing more social interaction opportunities for older adults living in younger neighborhoods and by improving access to public transportation, especially paratransit.

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Diet Quality and Neighborhood Environment in the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health Project

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12103217 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 3217

Author(s):

Kaitlyn Gilham ◽

Qianqian Gu ◽

Trevor J. B. Dummer ◽

John J. Spinelli ◽

Rachel A. Murphy

Keyword(s):

Population Density ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Census Data ◽

Social Deprivation ◽

Neighborhood Environment ◽

Neighbourhood Environment ◽

Deprived Neighbourhoods ◽

Intermediate Density

An understanding of relationships between different constructs of the neighbourhood environment and diet quality is needed to inform public health interventions. This study investigated associations between material deprivation, social deprivation and population density with diet quality in a cohort of 19,973 Canadian adults aged 35 to 69 years within the Atlantic PATH cohort study. Diet quality, a metric of how well diet conforms to recommendations was determined from a 24-item food frequency questionnaire. Neighbourhood environment data were derived from dissemination area level Census data. Two deprivation indices were evaluated: material and social deprivation, which reflect access to goods and amenities and social relationships. Multi-level models were used to estimate relationships (mean differences and 95% CI) between neighbourhood environment and diet quality, adjusting for covariates. Mean diet quality was lower in the most socially deprived neighbourhoods compared to the least socially deprived: −0.56, 95% CI (−0.88, −0.25). Relationships between diet quality and population density differed between urban and rural areas (p-interaction < 0.0001). In rural areas, diet quality was higher in intermediate-density neighbourhoods: 0.54, 95% CI (0.05, 1.03). In urban areas, diet quality was lower in intermediate-density and the most-dense neighbourhoods: −0.84, 95% CI (−1.28, −0.40) and −0.72, 95% CI (−1.20, −0.25). Our findings suggest socially deprived and high-density neighbourhoods are associated with lower diet quality and possible urban-rural differences in neighbourhood environment-diet quality relationships. Additional studies are needed to determine the temporal nature of relationships and whether differences in diet quality are meaningful.

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Assessment of the attractiveness of rural areas in terms of internal migration in Russia and the EU countries

Economy of agricultural and processing enterprises ◽

10.31442/0235-2494-2021-0-6-40-47 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 40-47

Author(s):

N.V. Vorontsova ◽

◽

A.V. Merzlov ◽

R.R. Mukhametzyanov ◽

N.G. Platonovskiy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Internal Migration ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Urban Population ◽

Reverse Flow ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Point Of View ◽

Urban Life ◽

Innovative Capabilities ◽

Urban And Rural Areas

Those born in rural areas move to urban areas for both temporary and permanent residence. In general, urbanization is expanding in the world, as evidenced by the increase in the proportion of the urban population. However, recently, in parallel with urbanization, especially in the developed countries of Europe, there has been a reverse flow - the resettlement of a certain part of the urban population to the countryside. It attracts city dwellers with a comparatively better ecological situation, the presence of wide spaces and a sense of freedom. All of this is also supported by modern innovative capabilities. Information and digital technologies are increasingly blurring the boundaries between urban and rural areas. However, the attractiveness of rural areas for permanent habitation in a number of cases, including in our country, is reduced due to the lack of adequate urban living conditions for life and urban-centric state policy. This primarily affects rural areas remote from cities. At the same time, the suburbs, especially megacities, are the most attractive in terms of internal migration. It accommodates the conditions of urban life and the advantage of rural areas. The article touches upon the issues of internal migration of the urban population to the countryside in Russia and a number of European countries (on the example of France and Germany). In this regard, it was noted that this tendency exists, and with an increase in dynamics. As a result of the study, the factors that influence the decision-making by the townspeople to move to settlements located in agricultural areas were identified, and a set of criteria was proposed to assess their attractiveness from the point of view of internal migration of the population.

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Urbanisation and the incidence of eating disorders

The British Journal of Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/bjp.bp.106.021378 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 189 (6) ◽

pp. 562-563 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Gabriëlle E. Van Son ◽

Daphne Van Hoeken ◽

Aad I. M. Bartelds ◽

Eric F. Van Furth ◽

Hans W. Hoek

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Eating Disorders ◽

Anorexia Nervosa ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Bulimia Nervosa ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Urban Life ◽

Environmental Risk Factor ◽

Promising Avenue

SummaryThe link between degree of urbanisation and a number of mental disorders is well established. Schizophrenia, psychosis and depression are known to occur more frequently in urban areas. In our primary care-based study of eating disorders, the incidence of bulimia nervosa showed a dose–response relation with degree of urbanisation and was five times higher in cities than in rural areas. Remarkably, anorexia nervosa showed no association with urbanisation. We conclude that urban life is a potential environmental risk factor for bulimia nervosa but not for anorexia nervosa. These findings provide a promising avenue for further research into the aetiology of eating disorders.

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How Many, Who, Where, What, and How Long: Public Space in Russian Monotowns through Jan Gehl’s Theory

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13095105 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 5105

Author(s):

Damiano Cerrone ◽

Jesús López Baeza ◽

Panu Lehtovuori ◽

Daniele Quercia ◽

Rossano Schifanella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Space ◽

Urban Design ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Public Spaces ◽

Design Guidelines ◽

Urban Life ◽

City Life ◽

Jane Jacobs ◽

Use Of Social Media ◽

Media Data

The paper presents a method to operationalize Jan Gehl’s questions for public space into metrics to map Russian monotowns’ urban life in 2017. With the use of social media data, it becomes possible to scale Gehl’s approach from the survey of small urban areas to the analysis of entire cities while maintaining the human scale’s resolution. When underperforming public spaces are detected, we propose a matrix for urban design interventions using Jane Jacobs’ typologies for good city life. Furthermore, this method was deployed to improve the conditions of public spaces in Russian monotowns through a series of architectural briefs for design competitions and urban design guidelines for local administrations.

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The Pathway Study: Commonalities Across New Food Bank Users in Rural, Suburban and Urban Areas

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.1191 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽

Author(s):

F Roncarolo ◽

G Mercille ◽

J O'Loughlin ◽

M Riva ◽

M P Sylvestre ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Social Integration ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Food Aid ◽

Food Banks ◽

Household Food ◽

First Time

Abstract Background Few studies investigate long-term effects of food donation programs on food insecurity, diet, social integration or health. We describe household food insecurity (HFI), health, social integration and sociodemographic characteristics of 1003 new food banks users in rural, suburban and urban areas in Quebec, Canada. Methods Adults requesting food aid for the first time in the past 6 months were recruited in 117 food aid organizations (32 in rural, 35 in suburban, 50 in urban areas) using a nested sampling technique. Baseline data were collected from Sept 2018 to Jan 2020 in computer-assisted face-to-face interviews. Participants will be followed biennially. HFI was assessed with the 18-item Household Food Security Survey Module. Perceived physical and mental health scores were assessed with the SF12V2 module. Psychological distress and social integration were assessed with the Kessler scale K6+ and a modified version of MSPSS Scale. Differences across groups were tested with Chi square, ANOVA and post-hoc tests. Results Most participants reported high levels of materiel deprivation, with some variability across settings. Severe HFI was more prevalent in rural (51%) and urban (47%) areas than in suburbs (38%). More urban participants reported <20000 CAN$/yr (79% vs 74% in suburbs and 69% in rural) although low education level was more prevalent in rural areas (82% reported <12th grade education vs. 67% in suburban and 64% in urban areas). Psychological distress was higher in the suburbs (28%) compared to urban (21%) or rural areas (22%). No differences were detected across settings in social integration or physical or mental health scores. Conclusions New users of food banks report markedly high levels of material, social and health-related deprivation. In-depth analyses will permit more meaningful interpretation of these differences. The Pathways Study will permit better understanding of the life experience of persons requesting food assistance. Key messages People demanding food aid for the first time reported high levels of materiel deprivation, with some variability across settings. Severe housefold insecurity is around 50% among new food aid demanders in rural and urban settings.

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An Economic Study on Income and Expenditure Activities on Nochikuppam Slum Areas, Chennai City

YMER Digital ◽

10.37896/ymer20.12/51 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (12) ◽

pp. 545-550

Author(s):

M ARULMURUGAN ◽

◽

V Thandapani ◽

Keyword(s):

Rural Area ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Tamil Nadu ◽

Social Deprivation ◽

Rapid Urbanization ◽

Technology Parks ◽

Chennai City ◽

The City ◽

Slum Areas

The dimension of the slums is presumed as something that is deteriorating urban areas that is densely populated and contains dilapidated housing, often in multiple occupations, poverty, social disadvantage and other forms of physical and social deprivation. Urbanization is a global phenomenon experienced by economically advanced as well as developing countries. Rapid urbanization due to “pull factor” or the employment opportunity created in the city and “push factor” due to the lack of the same in rural areas and including environmental degradation, has attracted immigrants not only from the rural Tamil Nadu but also from other parts of the country. Growth of industrialization around the Chennai city, famine situation in the rural area, inadequate rain in the rural area, castism, rapidly and vast building construction activity in and around the city and information technology parks, has given surety for skilled, unskilled, semi-skilled jobs which are available to the deserving people. Most of the immigrated families who could not afford formal housing satisfy their need for housing by occupying available vacant land illegally and solving their housing problem and contribute to the creation of slums. In this study mainly aims to the income and expenditure activities of the Nochikuppam slum areas in Chennai city.

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Attitudes toward newcomers from the city. The case of urban-rural fringe of Krakow

Miscellanea Geographica ◽

10.2478/mgrsd-2018-0004 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 40-47

Author(s):

Halina Pawlak

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Urban Life ◽

High Rate ◽

Rural Environment ◽

Life Styles ◽

Metropolitan Cities ◽

Urban Rural ◽

The City ◽

Ways Of Life

Abstract Rural-urban areas are currently characterised by a high rate of economic development. One of the results of these changes is the inflow of urban populations, who are very different from the indigenous inhabitants. In spite of the move to a rural environment, they often preserve their customs and urban life styles; while, on the other hand, the indigenous inhabitants of rural areas tend to present traditional attitudes towards life. They are strongly attached to their land and identify with their place of residence. The author focuses on the attitudes expressed toward newcomers from Krakow and other metropolitan cities by the inhabitants of selected municipalities within the Krakow Metropolitan Area (KOM). The attitudes toward styles, ways of life, values, as well as preferences brought by the urban population were investigated.

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Trends and Most Frequent Methods of Suicide in Chile Between 2001 and 2010

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000357 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 21-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Francisco Bustamante ◽

Valeria Ramirez ◽

Cinthya Urquidi ◽

Vicente Bustos ◽

Zimri Yaseen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Suicide Rate ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Mortality Rates ◽

Progressive Increase ◽

Suicide Mortality ◽

Suicide Rates ◽

Temporal Study ◽

Minimum Age ◽

Urban Rural

Abstract. Background: Despite the many studies trying to evaluate the magnitude of suicide in Chile, none of them include the new valid data, recently published by the DEIS of the Chilean Health Ministry. Aim: This paper sought to describe how suicide rates changed among Chileans who were at least 15 years of age during the period of 2001–2010; these rates were stratified by sex, age, urban/rural status, and region of the country. Method: An exploratory and temporal study was conducted. Suicide mortality rates were calculated by collecting information from the Chilean Ministry of Health’s death registry between 2001 and 2010 among subjects who were at least 15 years of age. Crude and age-adjusted mortality rates were computed. Results: The standardized suicide rate in Chile during 2001–2010 was 14.7 deaths per 100,000, the highest in South America. The minimum age-adjusted suicide rate observed during the examined period was 13.49 per 100,000 in 2005, and the maximum, 16.67 per 100,000 in 2008. Suicide rates among men were up to 4.8 times the suicide rates among women. In addition, rates in rural areas were double compared with urban areas. Hanging was the most common suicide method, followed by use of firearms and explosives in men and poisoning in women. Finally, there was a progressive increase in suicide rates in the southernmost regions of the country. Conclusion: Suicide rates in Chile are relatively high among male subjects in rural areas. There is a disturbing increase in suicide rates among younger individuals and women, although these rates remain lower among younger individuals and women than among adults in general.

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