Restrictions of access to pesticides in suicide prevention

2021 ◽  
pp. 713-718
Author(s):  
Michael R. Phillips ◽  
David Gunnell
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Global Burden ◽  
Organophosphate Pesticides ◽  
High Toxicity ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Intentional Ingestion ◽  
Methods Of Suicide ◽  
The Western Pacific

Intentional pesticide ingestion is a common method of suicide, accounting for up to one-fifth of all suicides worldwide. The importance of intentional ingestion of pesticides was initially recognized in Asia and the Western Pacific but it is also a problem in Latin America, the Eastern Mediterranean, and in Africa. Organophosphate pesticides are responsible for a large proportion of pesticide self-poisonings and for the majority of deaths from pesticide ingestion. Limiting access to pesticides could substantially reduce the global burden of mortality due to suicide. Despite initial enthusiasm for restricting access to pesticides by promoting safe storage of these compounds, the definitive study on this method in Sri Lanka did not find a significant reduction in suicide rates. There is, however, growing evidence that national or regional bans on high toxicity pesticides lead to falls in pesticide-ingestion suicide rates, and overall, suicide rates without substantial substitution of other methods of suicide.

Perceptions of a Peer Suicide Prevention Program by Inmates and Professionals Working in Prisons

Crisis ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 289-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Auzoult ◽  
Sid Abdellaoui
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Prevention Program ◽  
Suicide Risk ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Penal Institutions ◽  
Peer Suicide ◽  
Suicide Prevention Programs ◽  
Methods Of Suicide

Background: Suicide prevention is a major challenge for penal institutions in many countries. The traditional approach relies on the expertise of health professionals and is supplemented by the intervention of other professionals and the inmates themselves. New methods of suicide prevention based on peer support have been developed in recent years. Peer prevention programs rely on the ability of inmates to identify suicide risk. Aims: This study examines perceived suicide risk among inmates and explores possible explanations. Method: 54 inmates and 17 professionals working in prisons responded to a questionnaire. Results: The peer prevention program was found to change inmates’ expectations of support in the event of a suicide crisis. The study also found that the inmates involved in the program tended to underestimate the risk of suicide. The perception of the prevention program and the level of self-consciousness were found to account for the underestimation of suicide risk. Conclusions: Support for inmates involved in suicide prevention programs must take into account their isolation in prison. The training provided to inmates must also consider the biases affecting the assessment of risk.

Suicide-Related Crimes in Contemporary European Criminal Laws

Crisis ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilkka Henrik Mäkinen
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Suicide Mortality ◽  
Legal Systems ◽  
Cultural Attitudes ◽  
Public Opinions ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Narrow Scope ◽  
National Affair ◽  
Attitudes Towards Suicide ◽  
Special Circumstances

This article describes suicide-related penal legislation in contemporary Europe, and analyzes and relates the results to cultural attitudes towards suicide and to national suicide rates. Data were obtained from 42 legal entities. Of these, 34 have penal regulations which - according to definition - chiefly and directly deal with suicide. There are three main types of act: aiding suicide, abetting suicide, and driving to suicide. The laws vary considerably with regard to which acts are sanctioned, how severely they are punished, and whether any special circumstances such as the motive, the result, or the object can make the crime more serious. Various ideologies have inspired legislation: religions, the euthanasia movement, and suicide prevention have all left their mark. There are some cases in which neighboring legal systems have clearly influenced laws on the topic. However, the process seems mostly to have been a national affair, resulting in surprisingly large discrepancies between European legal systems. The laws seem to reflect public opinions: countries which punish the crimes harder have significantly less permissive cultural attitudes towards suicide. Likewise, suicide rates were significantly higher in countries with a narrow scope of criminalization and milder punishments for suicide-related crimes. The cultural and normative elements of society are connected with its suicide mortality.

scholarly journals One Century of Study: What We Learned about Paracoccidioides and How This Pathogen Contributed to Advances in Antifungal Therapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 106
Author(s):  
Erika Seki Kioshima ◽  
Patrícia de Souza Bonfim de Mendonça ◽  
Marcus de Melo Teixeira ◽  
Isis Regina Grenier Capoci ◽  
André Amaral ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Antifungal Activity ◽  
Molecular Biology ◽  
Antifungal Therapy ◽  
High Toxicity ◽  
Development Stages ◽  
Thioredoxin System ◽  
Nanostructured Systems ◽  
Advanced Development

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a notable fungal infection restricted to Latin America. Since the first description of the disease by Lutz up to the present day, Brazilian researchers have contributed to the understanding of the life cycle of this pathogen and provided the possibility of new targets for antifungal therapy based on the structural and functional genomics of Paracoccidioides. In this context, in silico approaches have selected molecules that act on specific targets, such as the thioredoxin system, with promising antifungal activity against Paracoccidioides. Some of these are already in advanced development stages. In addition, the application of nanostructured systems has addressed issues related to the high toxicity of conventional PCM therapy. Thus, the contribution of molecular biology and biotechnology to the advances achieved is unquestionable. However, it is still necessary to transcend the boundaries of synthetic chemistry, pharmaco-technics, and pharmacodynamics, aiming to turn promising molecules into newly available drugs for the treatment of fungal diseases.

scholarly journals Trends in Suicide Mortality in Montenegro From 2000 to 2018

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidija Injac Stevović ◽  
Selman Repišti ◽  
Tamara Radojičić ◽  
Olivera Injac
Keyword(s):  
Labor Market ◽  
Unemployment Rate ◽  
Suicide Rate ◽  
Ecological Study ◽  
Suicide Mortality ◽  
Average Salary ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Methods Of Suicide ◽  
Cultural Features

Abstract Background: This is an ecological study that analyzes suicides committed in Montenegro during the 2000-2018 period, taking into account gender, age and methods of suicide. Methods: Suicide rates and trends up until 2009 were obtained from the official registers of Bureau of Statistics of Montenegro (MONSTAT) while the later data were obtained from the Department of Interior’s. MONSTAT also provided data on unemployment and average salary. As per statistical methods, descriptive and correlations were calculated. Results: The average crude suicide rate was 21.06, for males 29.93 and for females 12.42. Crude suicide rates were not associated with unemployment rate or average salary. However, the unemployment rate was significantly correlated with lethal methods of suicide, namely suicide by firearm and by hanging. Average net salary was negatively correlated with suicide by firearm. Conclusions: The ratio of males and females who committed suicide was 2.41. In the last three years, this ratio continues to rise in favor of males (reaching 4.29 in 2018). This could be explained by specific cultural features where males are expected to be the main financial contributors to the households. The labor market of Montenegro does not offer adequate opportunities to set and maintain a stable economic situation which puts additional pressure and stress on males.

Medical Resources and Suicide Prevention

1992 ◽  
Vol 75 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1254-1254
Author(s):  
David Lester
Keyword(s):  
Infant Mortality ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Homicide Rates ◽  
Medical Resources ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
American States ◽  
Quality Of Medical Care

Infant mortality rates, a measure of the quality of medical care, was associated with homicide rates, but not suicide rates, over nations and over the American states.

Lyrics of National Anthems and Suicide Rates

2011 ◽  
Vol 109 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Lester ◽  
John F. Gunn
Keyword(s):  
Suicide Prevention ◽  
Suicide Rates

The suicide rates of 18 European nations were associated with the proportion of sad words in the lyrics of their national anthems as well as the gloominess of the music. It is suggested that a possible suicide prevention tactic might involve changing the music and lyrics of national anthems.

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.

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