scholarly journals Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Suicidal Behaviors in South Korea: A Systematic Review On The Current State of Evidence

Author(s):  
Nicolas Raschke ◽  
Amir Mohsenpour ◽  
Leona Aschentrup ◽  
Florian Fischer ◽  
Kamil J. Wrona

Abstract Background The economic and human costs of suicide to individuals, families, communities, and society make suicide a major public health problem around the world. Suicide rates in South Korea are among the highest in the world. This paper is the first systematic review investigating socioeconomic risk factors for suicidal behaviors (suicidal ideation, attempted suicides, and completed suicides) in South Korea. Methods We performed a systematic review in Medline and Web of Science. Empirical studies and peer-reviewed articles on the association between individual socioeconomic factors and suicidal behaviors have been included. A total of 53 studies were included in a descriptive synthesis. Results Overall, 35 studies focused on the association between individual socioeconomic factors and suicidal ideation, 16 were related to suicide attempts, while 10 addressed completed suicides. Low income, unemployment, and financial difficulties were identified as risk factors for all suicidal behaviors. Working in precarious conditions, long working hours, self-employment, changes in employment status, shift work/night-time work, and occupational stress were associated with an increased risk for suicidal ideation. Low educational attainment appears to increase the risk for suicide attempts and completed suicide, but the significance of educational attainment on the reporting of suicidal ideation could not be verified. The primary studies were unable to ascertain whether the place of residence impacts on suicidal behaviors. Conclusions The results highlight the relevance of socioeconomic factors for suicidal behaviors in South Korea. Governmental social spending must be increased and redirected more efficiently so that the economically most vulnerable groups are financially protected and income inequality does not widen. Furthermore, comprehensive prevention strategies at the community level are needed. Future research needs to focus on identifying vulnerable groups for whom the effects of low socioeconomic status may have particularly serious consequences with regard to suicidal behaviors.

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. e100247
Author(s):  
Matt Pelton ◽  
Matt Ciarletta ◽  
Holly Wisnousky ◽  
Nicholas Lazzara ◽  
Monica Manglani ◽  
...  

BackgroundPeople living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) must contend with a significant burden of disease. However, current studies of this demographic have yielded wide variations in the incidence of suicidality (defined as suicidal ideation, suicide attempt and suicide deaths).AimsThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the lifetime incidence and prevalence of suicidality in PLWHA.MethodsPublications were identified from PubMed (MEDLINE), SCOPUS, OVID (MEDLINE), Joanna Briggs Institute EBP and Cochrane Library databases (from inception to before 1 February 2020). The search strategy included a combination of Medical Subject Headings associated with suicide and HIV. Researchers independently screened records, extracted outcome measures and assessed study quality. Data were pooled using a random-effects model. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were conducted to explore the associated risk factors and to identify the sources of heterogeneity. Main outcomes were lifetime incidence of suicide completion and lifetime incidence and prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt.ResultsA total of 185 199 PLWHA were identified from 40 studies (12 cohorts, 27 cross-sectional and 1 nested case-control). The overall incidence of suicide completion in PLWHA was 10.2/1000 persons (95%CI: 4.5 to 23.1), translating to 100-fold higher suicide deaths than the global general population rate of 0.11/1000 persons. The lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts was 158.3/1000 persons (95%CI: 106.9 to 228.2) and of suicidal ideation was 228.3/1000 persons (95%CI: 150.8 to 330.1). Meta-regression revealed that for every 10-percentage point increase in the proportion of people living with HIV with advanced disease (AIDS), the risk of suicide completion increased by 34 per 1000 persons. The quality of evidence by Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations for the suicide deaths was graded as ‘moderate’ quality.ConclusionsThe risk of suicide death is 100-fold higher in people living with HIV than in the general population. Lifetime incidence of suicidal ideation and attempts are substantially high. Suicide risk assessments should be a priority in PLWHA, especially for those with more advanced disease.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 78
Author(s):  
Victor Meireles Campos ◽  
Ieda Aleluia

BACKGROUND: Suicidal ideation is one of the main symptoms indicative of suicide attempts and suicide. According to the WHO, about 800,000 cases of suicide were reported around the world in 2014, which translates to an index of 1 suicide every 40 seconds. Medical students constitute a population at risk for the development of suicidal ideation. Several life factors may influence the risk of suicidal ideation, those being personality traits, social factors and mental health. OBJECTIVE: Identify the indicators of suicidal ideation among medical students during their academic training. METHODS: This is a systematic review carried out in the electronic databases Pubmed and BVS. Articles that addressed the subject of suicidal ideation among medical students in Portuguese, English and Spanish from 2008 to 2018 were included. RESULTS: We found 263 articles, of which 12 articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After the application of the STROBE statement, 6 articles were selected for the creation of this systematic review. The prevalence of suicidal ideation varied from 3.7% to 35.6% around the world and several factors were linked to the increase of suicidal ideation risk. CONCLUSION: A suicidal ideation is a frequent and multifactorial phenomenon that involves several realms of a medical student's life. The risk factors identified in this review were linked to the increased risk of suicidal ideation development.


Author(s):  
Arezoo Karimi ◽  
Jafar Bazyar ◽  
Leila Malekyan ◽  
Salman Daliri

Objective: After accidents and disasters, people suffer from mental disorders due to physical, economic and social injuries. These include anxiety, stress, depression, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. Due to the fact that some of these measures can endanger a person’s life, it is important to pay attention to these psychological factors. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to investigate prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts after disasters in the world. Method: The present study was a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt after disaster in the world. Accordingly, all articles published English-language from the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2020 were extracted from Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Psych Info, Science Direct and Google scholar and evaluated. Statistical analysis of data was performed using the fixed and random effects model in meta-analysis and Cochran test. Results: A total of 33 studies with a sample size of 61,180 people entered the meta-analysis process. Accordingly, the prevalence of suicidal ideation was estimated at 12.9% (CI95%: 10.3% -15.5%) in the whole population, 10.6% (CI95%: 6.1% - 15.0%) in males and 15.8% (CI95%: 10.0% - 21.6%) in females. Moreover, prevalence of suicide attempt after disasters was estimated at 8.8% (CI95%: 6.6% - 11.0%). Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt is high and prevalence of Suicide idea in women was about three times higher than in men.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e037154
Author(s):  
Holly Wisnousky ◽  
Nick Lazzara ◽  
Matt Ciarletta ◽  
Matt Pelton ◽  
Vernon M Chinchilli ◽  
...  

IntroductionThe prevalence of HIV/AIDS is high and is associated with psychiatric morbidity and suicide risk. The objective of this study will be to assess the rates of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and suicide deaths in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).Methods and analysisWe present a study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting the suicidality outcomes (suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and suicide deaths) in PLWHA. PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, OVID (HEALTH STAR), OVID (MEDLINE), Joanna Briggs Institute EBP Database, Web of Science and PsychINFO databases will be searched from their inception until 1 January 2020. The primary outcome of interest will be the incidence of suicidality in PLWHA. In addition, we will delineate risk factors associated with suicidality in PLWHA. Citations, full-text articles and abstracts will be screened by four reviewers independently. Disagreements will be resolved through discussion. The study methodological quality (or bias) will be appraised using an appropriate tool. Random-effects meta-analysis will be conducted if we find that the studies are very heterogenous. For the suicidality outcome, probability of suicide risk will be reported. Relative risk ratios (with 95% CIs) will be reported for the effects of the risk factors. Potential publication bias will be assessed by conducting Egger’s test and creating funnel plots. We will conduct additional analyses to explore the potential sources of heterogeneity (eg, age, sex and geographical location).Ethics and disseminationNo ethics clearance is required as no primary data will be collected. The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis will be presented at scientific conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal. The results may inform clinical management of PLWHA and may guide future population-specific interventions.We will search PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, OVID (HEALTH STAR), OVID (MEDLINE), Joanna Briggs Institute EBP Database, Web of Science and PsychINFO from their inception until 1 January 2020.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020161501.


Crisis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudath Samaraweera ◽  
Athula Sumathipala ◽  
Sisira Siribaddana ◽  
S. Sivayogan ◽  
Dinesh Bhugra

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.


Crisis ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Venta ◽  
Carla Sharp

Background: Identifying risk factors for suicide-related thoughts and behaviors (SRTB) is essential among adolescents in whom SRTB remain a leading cause of death. Although many risk factors have already been identified, influential theories now suggest that the domain of interpersonal relationships may play a critical role in the emergence of SRTB. Because attachment has long been seen as the foundation of interpersonal functioning, we suggest that attachment insecurity warrants attention as a risk factor for SRTB. Aims: This study sought to explore relations between attachment organization and suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and self-harm in an inpatient adolescent sample, controlling for demographic and psychopathological covariates. Method: We recruited 194 adolescents from an inpatient unit and assigned them to one of four attachment groups (secure, preoccupied, dismissing, or disorganized attachment). Interview and self-report measures were used to create four variables reflecting the presence or absence of suicidal ideation in the last year, single lifetime suicide attempt, multiple lifetime suicide attempts, and lifetime self-harm. Results: Chi-square and regression analyses did not reveal significant relations between attachment organization and SRTB, although findings did confirm previously established relations between psychopathology and SRTB, such that internalizing disorder was associated with increased self-harm, suicide ideation, and suicide attempt and externalizing disorder was associated with increased self-harm. Conclusion: The severity of this sample and methodological differences from previous studies may explain the nonsignificant findings. Nonsignificant findings may indicate that the relation between attachment organization and SRTB is moderated by other factors that should be explored in future research.


Crisis ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 283-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. F. Chan ◽  
T. Maniam ◽  
A. S. Shamsul

Background: Depressed inpatients constitute a high-risk population for suicide attempts. Aims: To describe the interactions of clinical and psychosocial risk factors influencing suicide attempts among a Malaysian sample of depressed inpatients. Methods: Seventy-five subjects were diagnosed with a depressive disorder according to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders-Clinical Version (SCID-CV). Data on suicide attempts, suicidal ideation (Scale for Suicidal Ideation, SSI), depression severity (Beck’s Depression Inventory, BDI), recent life-event changes (Social Readjustment Rating Scale, SRRS), sociodemographic and other relevant clinical factors were collected. Results: A third of the subjects presented after a current suicide attempt. Significant factors for a current suicide attempt were race, religion, recent life-event changes, suicidal ideation, and alcohol use disorder. Independent predictive risk factors for a current suicide attempt were Chinese race, recent marital separation, major mortgage or loans, and being newly diagnosed with depression. Any recent change in personal habits was shown to be a protective factor against current suicide attempt. Age and gender were nonsignificant factors. Conclusions: The findings are generally consistent with existing studies and highlight the role of psychosocial risk factors.


Crisis ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Mino ◽  
Arnaud Bousquet ◽  
Barbara Broers

The high mortality rate among drug users, which is partly due to the HIV epidemic and partly due to drug-related accidental deaths and suicides, presents a major public health problem. Knowing more about prevalence, incidence, and risk factors is important for the development of rational preventive and therapeutic programs. This article attempts to give an overview of studies of the relations between substance abuse, suicidal ideation, suicide, and drug-related death. Research in this field is hampered by the absence of clear definitions, and results of studies are rarely comparable. There is, however, consensus about suicidal ideation being a risk factor for suicide attempts and suicide. Suicidal ideation is also a predictor of suicide, especially among drug users. It is correlated with an absence of family support, with the severity of the psychosocial dysfunctioning, and with multi-drug abuse, but also with requests for treatment. Every clinical examination of a drug user, not only of those who are depressed, should address the possible presence of suicidal ideation, as well as its intensity and duration.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 1847-1853
Author(s):  
Sahar Attar ◽  
Nour Mohammad Bakhshani ◽  
Qasem Miri Aliabad

Background and Aim: Thalassemia major is one of the most common chronic genetic diseases in the world and in Iran that can impose many adverse effects on the self and society. Psychologically, patients with thalassemia are under stress. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. It is important to identify the people who have the highest risk factors for suicide. The present research investigates the frequency of thoughts, readiness and suicide attempts in people with thalassemia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Its sample was 150 patients with thalassemia in the age range of 10 to 46 years whom we selected through census by sampling at convenience. We gave to patients a standardized Beck Suicide Thought Assessment Questionnaire. We analyzed the research data using descriptive and inferential statistical tests. Results: From among 150 patients with thalassemia in this study, 57.3% of the respondents were male and 42.7% were female. The results showed that there was a negative and significant relationship between suicide thoughts and attempts and age (-0.234) (P <0.05). The mean prevalence of suicide in men (1.89) was significantly higher compared to women (0.79) (P <0.05). We did not observe significant difference in prevalence of suicide thoughts and attempts between married and single groups with a mean difference (0.69) (P <0.05) and, in different educational groups, no significant difference was reported (P> 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this research showed that among patients with thalassemia, the prevalence of suicidal ideation has a significant percentage. Since suicidal ideation provides a platform for preparation and attempt to commit suicide, so by providing mental health services and regular screening, we can take an effective step to prevent this problem among patients with thalassemia. Keywords: Thalassemia, Suicidal ideation, Suicide.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Chen ◽  
Yu-Yu Xu ◽  
Jing-Ge Du ◽  
Li-Min Xin ◽  
Su-Li Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a kind of mental disorder with the greatest risk of suicide, but it is often misdiagnosed as major depressive disorder (MDD) clinically. This study aimed to analyze the sociodemographic factors and clinical characteristics associated with suicide attempts (SA) in patients with BD misdiagnosed with MDD in China. Methods: A total of 1487 MDD patients were consecutively enrolled in 13 mental health centers in China. Data on patients’ sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected using a standardized protocol. Of these, 306 BD patients were misdiagnosed with MDD according to the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Suicide attempters and non-attempters were classified by the suicidality module of the MINI. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between the independent variables of interest and SA in BD patients misdiagnosed with MDD. Results: Of the 306 BD patients misdiagnosed with MDD, 225 (73.5%) were non-attempters and 81 (26.5%) were attempters. Compared to non-attempters, attempters were older (Z =2.2, p = 0.03) and had more admissions(χ2 =6.1, p = 0.013), more frequent depressive episodes, more atypical characteristics (e.g. increased appetite, weight gain, and more sleep time)(χ2 = 5.8, p = 0.016), more suicidal ideation (χ2 = 27.3, p < 0.001), more psychotic symptoms (χ2 = 7.4, p = 0.006) and more seasonal depressive episodes (χ2 = 5.6, p = 0.018). Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that attempters were characterized by more suicidal ideation (OR = 5.7, 95% CI: 2.6–12.5) and frequent depressive episodes (OR = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.3–4.6). The limitations of this study include its cross-sectional design and data collection by suicide attempters’ retrospective recall. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that BD patients misdiagnosed with MDD are at a higher risk of suicide, and more frequent depressive episodes and suicidal ideation are risk factors for attempted suicide. Early identification of and interventions for these risk factors might reduce the risk of suicide in BD patients misdiagnosed with MDD.


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