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Özlü-Erkilic Z, Diehm R, Wenzel T, Bingöl Ҫağlayan RH, Güneş H, Üneri ÖŞ, Winter S, Akkaya-Kalayci T. Transcultural differences in suicide attempts among children and adolescents with and without migration background, a multicentre study: in Vienna, Berlin, Istanbul. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2022; 31:1671-1683. [PMID: 34050830 PMCID: PMC9666344 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-021-01805-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
While suicide can occur throughout the lifespan, worldwide suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged between 15 and 29 years. The aim of this multicentre study, conducted in Austria, Germany and Turkey, is to investigate the transcultural differences of suicide attempts among children and adolescents with and without migration background. The present study is a retrospective analyses of the records of 247 young people, who were admitted after a suicide attempt to Emergency Outpatient Clinics of Departments of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of the collaborating Universities including Medical University of Vienna, Charité University Medicine Berlin and Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine and Bakirkoy Training and Research Hospital for Mental Health in Istanbul over a 3-year period. The results of the present study show significant transcultural differences between minors with and without migration background in regard to triggering reasons, method of suicide attempts and psychiatric diagnosis. The trigger event "intra-familial conflicts" and the use of "low-risk methods" for their suicide attempt were more frequent among patients with migration background. Moreover among native parents living in Vienna and Berlin divorce of parents were more frequent compared to parents living in Istanbul and migrants in Vienna. These results can be partly explained by cultural differences between migrants and host society. Also disadvantages in socio-economic situations of migrants and their poorer access to the healthcare system can mostly lead to acute and delayed treatments. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to understand better the impact of migration on the suicidal behaviour of young people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeliha Özlü-Erkilic
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Outpatient Clinic of Transcultural Psychiatry and Migration Induced Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert Diehm
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Wenzel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - R Hülya Bingöl Ҫağlayan
- Department of Child and Adolescents Psychiatry, Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine, İstanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Kocamustafapasa Cd. No: 53, Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Hatice Güneş
- Department of Psychology, İstanbul Gelisim University, Cihangir Mahallesi Şehit Jandarma Komando Er Hakan Oner Sk. No:1, Avcilar, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bakirkoy Training and Research Hospital for Mental Health and Neurological Disorders, Zuhuratbaba Mah. Dr Tevfik Sağlam Cad. No:25/2, Bakirköy, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Özden Şükran Üneri
- Department of Child and Adolescents Psychiatry, Ankara City Hospital, AYBÜ Ankara Şehir Hastanesi Çocuk Hastanesi 06800 Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sibylle Winter
- Departement of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychsomatics and Psychotherapy, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow, Augustenbruger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Türkan Akkaya-Kalayci
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Outpatient Clinic of Transcultural Psychiatry and Migration Induced Disorders in Childhood and Adolescence, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
- Postgraduate University Program Transcultural Medicine and Diversity Care, Medical University of Vienna, Spitalgasse 23, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
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Kim AM. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicides: A population study. Psychiatry Res 2022; 314:114663. [PMID: 35717854 PMCID: PMC9181198 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This study examines the factors associated with the change in the number of suicides per month during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2021. For economic indicators, employment and unemployment rates, Consumer Price Index, and Consumer Sentiment Index were used. As inverse indicators of social distancing, the numbers of overseas departures, domestic trips, and movie audience were used. The monthly numbers of inpatients and outpatients for depression were included to consider the effect of the prevalence of depression. Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis and a linear regression were conducted. There was a continued decrease in the number of suicides of 1.7% in 2021 from 2020 following the 4.4% decrease in the previous year. The employment rate was positively associated with the number of suicides for males, while the consumer price index was negatively associated with the number of suicides for females. While the inverse social distancing measures were positively correlated with the number of suicides, no significant association was observed in the regression analysis. Commonly shared thoughts that the pandemic would lead to an increase in suicides by its direct negative impact on mental health or indirect impact through the aggravation of economic conditions and social distancing need to be re-examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnus M Kim
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehangno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Korea.
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3
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Abstract
Suicide is a major public health concern in the United States. Between 2000 and 2018, US suicide rates increased by 35%, contributing to the stagnation and subsequent decrease in US life expectancy. During 2019, suicide declined modestly, mostly owing to slight reductions in suicides among Whites. Suicide rates, however, continued to increase or remained stable among all other racial/ethnic groups, and little is known about recent suicide trends among other vulnerable groups. This article (a) summarizes US suicide mortality trends over the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, (b) reviews potential group-level causes of increased suicide risk among subpopulations characterized by markers of vulnerability to suicide, and (c) advocates for combining recent advances in population-based suicide prevention with a socially conscious perspective that captures the social, economic, and political contexts in which suicide risk unfolds over the life course of vulnerable individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Martínez-Alés
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; ,
- Department of Psychiatry, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Tammy Jiang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
| | - Katherine M Keyes
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; ,
| | - Jaimie L Gradus
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
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Opposite nonlinear effects of unemployment and sentiment on male and female suicide rates: Evidence from Australia. Soc Sci Med 2021; 292:114536. [PMID: 34772521 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
We investigate gender differences in the effects of unemployment and sentiment on suicide rates. Using monthly Australian data, we find a positive relationship between the unemployment rate and the suicide rate, and a negative relationship between consumer sentiment and the suicide rate. However, there is strong evidence of nonlinearity in the effects of both unemployment and sentiment on suicide rates, with substantial gender differences. For men, an increase in the unemployment rate increases the suicide rate, but an unemployment decrease has no effect; we find the opposite for women. For men, an increase in sentiment has stronger effects on the suicide rate than a decrease in sentiment. Again, we observe the opposite effect for women. Among sentiment components, forward-looking expectations are stronger predictors of suicide rates than present conditions. Sentiment has a much stronger effect on male suicide rates than on female suicide rates.
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Ettman CK, Gradus JL, Galea S. Invited Commentary: Reckoning With the Relationship Between Stressors and Suicide Attempts in a Time of COVID-19. Am J Epidemiol 2020; 189:1275-1277. [PMID: 32696066 PMCID: PMC7454280 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwaa147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents a unique set of risk exposures for populations, which might lead to an increase in suicide. While large-scale traumatic events are known to increase psychological disorders, thus far the science has not shown a clear link between these events and suicide. In this issue of the Journal, Elbogen et al. (Am J Epidemiol. 2020;189(11):1266-1274) used representative data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) to show that 4 dimensions of financial strain-financial debt/crisis, unemployment, past homelessness, and lower income-are associated with subsequent suicide attempts. There are 3 main lessons we can take from Elbogen et al.: First, with populations facing record-breaking unemployment, economic recession, and reduced wages, we can anticipate an increase in suicide in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Second, these data show the centrality of financial stressors, marking the current moment as distinct from other disasters or large-scale trauma. Third, the data teach us that financial stressors are linked and cumulative. In this way, Elbogen et al. provide a sobering harbinger of the potential effects on suicide of the collective stressors borne by the COVID-19 pandemic and other mass traumatic events that are accompanied by substantial financial stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine K Ettman
- Office of the Dean, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston
- Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island
- Corresponding Author: Ms Catherine Ettman, E-mail:
| | - Jaimie L Gradus
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Sandro Galea
- Office of the Dean, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA
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Elbogen EB, Lanier M, Montgomery AE, Strickland S, Wagner HR, Tsai J. Elbogen et al. Respond to "Stressors and Suicide Attempts in a Time of COVID-19". Am J Epidemiol 2020; 189:1278-1279. [PMID: 32696034 PMCID: PMC7454300 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwaa149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eric B Elbogen
- Veterans Health Administration, National Center on Homelessness among Veterans, Tampa, FL
- Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, NC
- Department of Psychiatry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
- Correspondence to Eric Elbogen, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27705 ()
| | - Megan Lanier
- Department of Psychiatry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| | - Ann Elizabeth Montgomery
- Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL
- University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health, Birmingham, AL
| | - Susan Strickland
- Veterans Health Administration, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Washington, DC
| | - H Ryan Wagner
- Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, NC
- Department of Psychiatry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
| | - Jack Tsai
- Veterans Health Administration, National Center on Homelessness among Veterans, Tampa, FL
- School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, San Antonio campus, TX
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Demirci Ş, Konca M, Yetim B, İlgün G. Effect of economic crisis on suicide cases: An ARDL bounds testing approach. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2020; 66:34-40. [PMID: 31564187 DOI: 10.1177/0020764019879946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicide events observed in various groups, community or countries, especially in the periods of economic recession. It is thought that suicide cases increase when people's income decreases dramatically and they lose their jobs. AIM/OBJECTIVE In this study, it was aimed to investigate whether the 2008 economic crisis had any effect on suicides in the United States. METHODS Autoregressive distributed lag method was used. For the purpose of the study, the number of suicide-related deaths was taken as the dependent variable, while unemployment rates and 2008 economic crisis were taken as independent variables. FINDINGS The short-term and long-term relationships obtained within the scope of the study indicated that the 2008 economic crisis had a statistically significant effect on suicide cases in the United States. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION It can be said that the results of this study are consistent with the information which emphasizes that economic crises increase suicide cases in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Şenol Demirci
- Department of Health Care Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Murat Konca
- Department of Health Care Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Birol Yetim
- Department of Health Care Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Gülnur İlgün
- Department of Health Care Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
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Phiri A, Mukuku D. Does unemployment aggravate suicide rates in South Africa? Some empirical evidence. REVIEW OF SOCIAL ECONOMY 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/00346764.2019.1630667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Phiri
- Department of Economics, Faculty of Business and Economic Studies, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | - Doreen Mukuku
- Department of Economics, Finance and Business Studies, CTI Potchefstroom Campus, North West, South Africa
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Mattei G, Pistoresi B. Unemployment and suicide in Italy: evidence of a long-run association mitigated by public unemployment spending. THE EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS : HEPAC : HEALTH ECONOMICS IN PREVENTION AND CARE 2019; 20:569-577. [PMID: 30542937 DOI: 10.1007/s10198-018-1018-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
From the mid-1990s on, the suicide rate in Italy declined steadily, then apparently rose again after the onset of the Great Recession, along with a sharp increase in unemployment. The aim of this study is to test the association between the suicide rate and unemployment (i.e., the unemployment rate for males and females in the period 1977-2015, and the long-term unemployment rate in the period 1983-2012) in Italy, by means of cointegration techniques. The analysis was adjusted for public unemployment spending (referring to the period 1980-2012). The study identified a long-run relationship between the suicide rate and long-term unemployment. On the other hand, an association between suicide and unemployment rate emerged, though statistically weaker. A 1% increase in long-term unemployment increases the suicide rate by 0.83%, with a long-term effect lasting up to 18 years. Public unemployment spending (as percentage of the Italian gross domestic product) may mitigate this association: when its annual growth rate is higher than 0.18%, no impact of unemployment on suicide in detectable. A decrease in the suicide rate is expected for higher amounts of social spending, which may be able to compensate for the reduced level of social integration resulting from unemployment, helping the individual to continue to integrate into society. A corollary of this is that austerity in times of economic recession may exacerbate the impact of the economic downturn on mental health. However, a specific "flexicurity" system (intended as a combination of high employment protection, job satisfaction and labour-market policies) may have a positive impact on health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Mattei
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi, 287, 41125, Modena, Italy.
- Department of Economics and Marco Biagi Foundation, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via J. Berengario, 51, 41121, Modena, Italy.
| | - Barbara Pistoresi
- Department of Economics and ReCent, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Viale Berengario 51, Modena, Italy
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Faria M, Santos MR, Sargento P, Branco M. The role of social support in suicidal ideation: a comparison of employed vs. unemployed people. J Ment Health 2019; 29:52-59. [PMID: 30810419 DOI: 10.1080/09638237.2018.1487538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Background: With the financial crisis, the number of unemployed has grown up, and so has suicidal ideation in these individuals. Although extensive research has been done about the factors associated with it, studies about protective factors are also necessary.Aims: To examine the relationship between unemployment and suicidal ideation, and the protective effect of social support.Methods: Participants were 149 people in full-time employment (age M = 41.63, SD = 10.37), 55 unemployed (M = 42.25, SD = 10.23 years), and 32.72 months average unemployment time (SD = 26.13). Instruments were a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Suicide Ideation Questionnaire (SIQ) and the Social Support Appraisal (SSA). Results: Suicidal ideation was significantly higher in the unemployed group, and positively associated with duration of unemployment. Social support, both from family and friends, was found to be a protective factor in suicidal ideation, particularly in long-term unemployment.Limitations: Cross-sectional study, convenience sample.Conclusions: Suicidal ideation is markedly present in unemployed individuals, particularly those unemployed for a year or more, and social support from family and friends may act as a significant protective factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Faria
- Escola Superior de Saúde Ribeiro Sanches, NICiTeS, Portugal
| | | | - Paulo Sargento
- Escola Superior de Saúde Ribeiro Sanches, NICiTeS, Portugal
| | - Marta Branco
- Escola Superior de Saúde Ribeiro Sanches, NICiTeS, Portugal
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Mattei G, Pistoresi B, De Vogli R. Impact of the economic crises on suicide in Italy: the moderating role of active labor market programs. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2019; 54:201-208. [PMID: 30421039 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-018-1625-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To analyze the association between unemployment and suicide in Italy during the years 1990-2014, with a peculiar focus on the great recession (GR) and the role played by social protection as buffering mechanism against the negative effect on health outcomes. METHODS Fixed effects panel regressions were used to assess the association between changes in unemployment rate and suicide rates. Additional models investigated the role of active labor market programs (ALMPs) as possible moderators of the association. Analyses were carried out for both males and females, stratified by age and region. RESULTS The negative time-trend displayed by suicide rate in Italy until 2007 was slowed down by changes in unemployment at the beginning of the GR, when this trend reversed and the rate of suicide started increasing. Male workers aged 25-64 and women aged 55-64 years were affected by both "normal" unemployment rate fluctuations as well as severe economic crises. Women aged 35-44 were only influenced by the latter. Men benefit from ALMPs mainly in Central Italy, while women did not benefit significantly from ALMPs. CONCLUSIONS In Italy, economic downturns were associated with increased suicides mainly among men, while severe economic crises were associated with increased suicides among both men and women. ALMPs showed to be effective in moderating the association between unemployment and suicide among men aged 45-54 only in Central Italy. The overall small effectiveness of such programs may be due to lack of sufficient funding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Mattei
- "Marco Biagi" Department of Economics and Marco Biagi Foundation, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via J. Berengario, 51, 41121, Modena, Italy.,Section of Psychiatry, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via G. Campi, 287, 41125, Modena, Italy
| | - Barbara Pistoresi
- Department of Economics, RECent, Center for Economic Research, University of Modena and Reggio Emila, Viale Berengario 51, 41121, Modena, Italy.
| | - Roberto De Vogli
- Department of Social Psychology and Development and Human Rights Centre, University of Padova, Via Venezia, 12, 35131, Padova, Italy
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Sengupta B, Jantzen RH. Incidence of female suicide in New York City: how important are socioeconomic factors? Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2019; 54:89-98. [PMID: 30267111 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-018-1600-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE After a steady decline in the incidence of suicide in the last 3 decades of the twentieth century, suicide rates in the US and likewise in New York City (NYC) began to rise. A breakdown of the city's rates by gender reveals that since 2000, suicides among men had held steady while the rate among women had increased in every age group, in divergence from the national pattern of rising rates in both genders. This study considers a broad range of socioeconomic variables to identify those most strongly associated with suicide rates of women in NYC. METHOD Drawing on 4 decades of data from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Vital Statistics and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, we use an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to estimate short and long run relationships between suicide rates in women aged 15-44 and a range of socioeconomic factors. RESULTS We find a positive aggregate association between women's suicide rates and the unemployment rate, the White percentage of the city's population, the number of forcible rapes reported in the crime statistics, and a negative association between suicide and abortion rates. CONCLUSIONS The results of the study suggest that labor market conditions, rather than societal factors such as marriage or fertility rates affect younger women's suicide rates in NYC. Second, sexual violence against women, found in micro studies to have severe long-term negative effects on victims' mental health is also positively associated with the aggregate suicide rate. Finally, higher abortion rates correspond with lower suicide rates at the city level, but the mechanisms behind this link are not as clear, since micro studies find little association between unwanted pregnancy termination and mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonu Sengupta
- Department of Economics, Iona College, New Rochelle, NY, 10801, USA.
| | - Robert H Jantzen
- Department of Economics, Iona College, New Rochelle, NY, 10801, USA
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Pellegrini PA. Science as a Matter of Honour: How Accused Scientists Deal with Scientific Fraud in Japan. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING ETHICS 2018; 24:1297-1313. [PMID: 28653168 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-017-9937-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Practices related to research misconduct seem to have been multiplied in recent years. Many cases of scientific fraud have been exposed publicly, and journals and academic institutions have deployed different measures worldwide in this regard. However, the influence of specific social and cultural environments on scientific fraud may vary from society to society. This article analyzes how scientists in Japan deal with accusations of scientific fraud. For such a purpose, a series of scientific fraud cases that took place in Japan has been reconstructed through diverse sources. Thus, by analyzing those cases, the social basis of scientific fraud and the most relevant aspects of Japanese cultural values and traditions, as well as the concept of honour which is deeply involved in the way Japanese scientists react when they are accused of and publicly exposed in scientific fraud situations is examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo A Pellegrini
- CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Instituto de Estudios sobre la Ciencia y la Tecnología, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, B1876BXD, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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14
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Lee KS, Lee H, Myung W, Song GY, Lee K, Kim H, Carroll BJ, Kim DK. Advanced Daily Prediction Model for National Suicide Numbers with Social Media Data. Psychiatry Investig 2018; 15:344-354. [PMID: 29614852 PMCID: PMC5912497 DOI: 10.30773/pi.2017.10.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Suicide is a significant public health concern worldwide. Social media data have a potential role in identifying high suicide risk individuals and also in predicting suicide rate at the population level. In this study, we report an advanced daily suicide prediction model using social media data combined with economic/meteorological variables along with observed suicide data lagged by 1 week. METHODS The social media data were drawn from weblog posts. We examined a total of 10,035 social media keywords for suicide prediction. We made predictions of national suicide numbers 7 days in advance daily for 2 years, based on a daily moving 5-year prediction modeling period. RESULTS Our model predicted the likely range of daily national suicide numbers with 82.9% accuracy. Among the social media variables, words denoting economic issues and mood status showed high predictive strength. Observed number of suicides one week previously, recent celebrity suicide, and day of week followed by stock index, consumer price index, and sunlight duration 7 days before the target date were notable predictors along with the social media variables. CONCLUSION These results strengthen the case for social media data to supplement classical social/economic/climatic data in forecasting national suicide events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung Sang Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyewon Lee
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Woojae Myung
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Kihwang Lee
- The Mining Company, Daumsoft, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Kim
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bernard J. Carroll
- Department of Psychiatry, Emeritus, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Doh Kwan Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Abstract
RESUMO Objetivo Identificar padrões de tendências do suicídio registrado em Portugal, tendo em conta um conjunto de variáveis socioeconômicas e demográficas entre os anos 2007 e 2014, de modo a obter uma visão geral desse flagelo em Portugal. Métodos Recorrendo a dados do Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE) e do Sistema de Informação dos Certificados de Óbito (SICO), foi analisado o suicídio segundo a categoria do CID-10 (Classificação Internacional de Doenças), examinando-se as incidências por gênero, faixa etária e região. Resultados Os mais acometidos pelo suicídio são homens (54,8%), com idade superior a 75 anos (30,9%), e ele ocorre nas zonas economicamente mais desfavorecidas. A mortalidade por suicídio mais elevada encontra-se na região do Alentejo (12,8%). Conclusão A mortalidade por suicídio continua a crescer em Portugal e varia em função do gênero e idade, sendo mais elevada nas regiões do Centro e Sul. É necessária uma estratégia de acompanhamento e de prevenção no âmbito da ação social e dos cuidados de saúde, com importantes variações regionais, e maior vigilância sobre a comercialização ilegal de armas de fogo e de pesticidas.
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Mattei G, De Vogli R, Ferrari S, Pingani L, Rigatelli M, Galeazzi GM. Impact of the economic crisis on health-related behaviors in Italy. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2017; 63:649-656. [PMID: 28831854 DOI: 10.1177/0020764017726097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence exists supporting the impact of the Great Recession on health-related behaviors internationally, though few studies are available concerning the Italian population. AIM To assess the impact of the late 2000s economic crisis on health-related behaviors linked to population mental health in Italy. METHODS Descriptive study. Health indicators came from the Italian Institute of Statistics database (years 2000-2015). Statistics performed by means of linear regression models. RESULTS Increased smokers (β = 1.68, p = .03), heavy smokers, that is, people smoking 11-20 cigarettes per day (β = 2.18, p = .04) or more than 20 cigarettes per day (β = 1.04, p < .01) and mean number of smoked cigarettes per day (β = 0.56, p = .02) were noticeable. Also, prevalence of overweight increased (β = 0.91, p = .04), while the Italian families' expenditure for alcoholic beverages decreased (β = -812.80, p = .01). Alcohol consumption decreased (β = -0.60, p < .01), especially in men (β = -0.95, p < .01); binge drinking increased in years 2009-2010. No change was noticeable in the diet indicators collected. CONCLUSION The economic crisis may have increased smoking, overweight and binge drinking in Italy (though data on the latter phenomenon are not conclusive), and reduced overall alcohol consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Mattei
- 1 Section of Psychiatry, Department of Diagnostics, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.,4 Association for Research in Psychiatry, Castelnuovo Rangone (Modena), Italy
| | - Roberto De Vogli
- 2 Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Silvia Ferrari
- 1 Section of Psychiatry, Department of Diagnostics, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Marco Rigatelli
- 1 Section of Psychiatry, Department of Diagnostics, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Gian Maria Galeazzi
- 1 Section of Psychiatry, Department of Diagnostics, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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Affiliation(s)
- J. John Mann
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Allison V. Metts
- Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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Sun BQ, Zhang J. Economic and Sociological Correlates of Suicides: Multilevel Analysis of the Time Series Data in the United Kingdom. J Forensic Sci 2016; 61:345-351. [PMID: 27404607 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Revised: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
For the effects of social integration on suicides, there have been different and even contradictive conclusions. In this study, the selected economic and social risks of suicide for different age groups and genders in the United Kingdom were identified and the effects were estimated by the multilevel time series analyses. To our knowledge, there exist no previous studies that estimated a dynamic model of suicides on the time series data together with multilevel analysis and autoregressive distributed lags. The investigation indicated that unemployment rate, inflation rate, and divorce rate are all significantly and positively related to the national suicide rates in the United Kingdom from 1981 to 2011. Furthermore, the suicide rates of almost all groups above 40 years are significantly associated with the risk factors of unemployment and inflation rate, in comparison with the younger groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Qiang Sun
- PACM & Department of Mathematics, State University of New York Buffalo State, Buffalo, NY
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Sociology, Shandong University School of Public Health and the Center for Suicide Prevention Research, China, State University of New York Buffalo State, Buffalo, NY
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Eskin M, Sun JM, Abuidhail J, Yoshimasu K, Kujan O, Janghorbani M, Flood C, Carta MG, Tran US, Mechri A, Hamdan M, Poyrazli S, Aidoudi K, Bakhshi S, Harlak H, Moro MF, Nawafleh H, Phillips L, Shaheen A, Taifour S, Tsuno K, Voracek M. Suicidal Behavior and Psychological Distress in University Students: A 12-nation Study. Arch Suicide Res 2016; 20:369-88. [PMID: 26954847 DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2015.1054055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the prevalence of suicidal behavior and psychological distress in university students across 12 nations. A total of 5,572 university students from 12 countries were surveyed about suicide ideation, suicide attempts, and psychological distress by means of a self-administered questionnaire. Almost 29% of the samples reported having contemplated suicide and 7% reported attempting suicide. Of the total sample, 51.1% scored above the General Health Questionnaire-12 ≥ 3 cut-off points, 41.6% above the GHQ-12 ≥ 4 cut-off points, and 33.8% scored above the GHQ-12 ≥ 5 cut-off points. While odds of suicide ideation were elevated in Austria and the UK, reduced ORs were detected for China, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Turkey. Similarly, while odds of suicide attempt were high in Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and to some extent in Turkey, reduced ORs were observed for Austria, China, Italy, Japan and the United States. Elevated ORs for psychological distress were seen in Japan, Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Turkey but reduced ORs were noted in Austria, China, Iran, Italy, and the United States. Psychological distress was strongly associated with reports of suicide ideation and attempts. Suicide ideation, suicide attempt, and psychological distress are common in university students but their rates vary depending on the sociocultural context. Due attention should be devoted to the mental health needs of young adults enrolled in higher educational institutions and more cross-cultural research is warranted to better understand the etiology of the observed intersocietal variations in suicidal behavior and psychological distress.
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Ritter K, Stompe T. [Unemployment, suicide- and homicide-rates in the EU countries]. NEUROPSYCHIATRIE : KLINIK, DIAGNOSTIK, THERAPIE UND REHABILITATION : ORGAN DER GESELLSCHAFT OSTERREICHISCHER NERVENARZTE UND PSYCHIATER 2016; 27:111-8. [PMID: 23516129 DOI: 10.1007/s40211-012-0051-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2012] [Accepted: 10/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While the link between the unemployment and the national suicide rates is confirmed by various studies, there are few investigations on the impact of unemployment on homicide rates. In particular, it is not known whether suicide and homicide are associated with the same socio-economic factors. METHODS Using linear regression method, the influence of unemployment rates, per capita incomes and annual alcohol consumption on suicide and homicide rates was examined in the 27 EU states. RESULTS We found a positive correlation between suicide and homicide rates. Unemployment among men is a strong predictor not only for suicide- but also for homicide rates. Suicide rates in men are also affected by the annual alcohol consumption. The suicide rates in women, however, correlate neither with socio-economic variables nor with alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS Unemployment seems to have a stronger impact on the male than on the female identity. Since the former is still highly dependent on predetermined social roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Ritter
- Institut für Suchtdiagnostik, Modecenterstraße 16, 1030, Wien, Österreich.
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Santana P, Costa C, Cardoso G, Loureiro A, Ferrão J. Suicide in Portugal: Spatial determinants in a context of economic crisis. Health Place 2015; 35:85-94. [PMID: 26277771 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2015.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Revised: 06/05/2015] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
This study compares the existing statistical association between suicide mortality and the characteristics of places of residence (municipalities), before and during the current economic crisis, in Portugal. We found that (1) the traditional culture-based North/South pattern of suicidal behaviour has faded away, while the socioeconomic urban/rural divide has become more pronounced; (2) suicide is associated with higher levels of rurality and material deprivation; and (3) recent shifts in suicidal trends may result from the current period of crisis. Strategies targeting rural areas combined with public policies that address area deprivation may have important implications for tackling suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Santana
- Centre of Studies on Geography and Spatial Planning, Department of Geography, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Cláudia Costa
- Centre of Studies on Geography and Spatial Planning, University of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Graça Cardoso
- Chronic Diseases Research Center (CEDOC) and Department of Mental Health, NOVA Medical School, New University of Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Adriana Loureiro
- Centre of Studies on Geography and Spatial Planning, University of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João Ferrão
- Institute of Social Sciences, University of Lisbon, Portugal
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Oyesanya M, Lopez-Morinigo J, Dutta R. Systematic review of suicide in economic recession. World J Psychiatry 2015; 5:243-254. [PMID: 26110126 PMCID: PMC4473496 DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v5.i2.243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Revised: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM: To provide a systematic update of the evidence concerning the relationship between economic recession and suicide.
METHODS: A keyword search of Ovid Medline, Embase, Embase Classic, PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES was performed to identify studies that had investigated the association between economic recession and suicide.
RESULTS: Thirty-eight studies met predetermined selection criteria and 31 of them found a positive association between economic recession and increased suicide rates. Two studies reported a negative association, two articles failed to find such an association, and three studies were inconclusive.
CONCLUSION: Economic recession periods appear to increase overall suicide rates, although further research is warranted in this area, particularly in low income countries.
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Kim Y, Myung W, Won HH, Shim S, Jeon HJ, Choi J, Carroll BJ, Kim DK. Association between air pollution and suicide in South Korea: a nationwide study. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0117929. [PMID: 25693115 PMCID: PMC4333123 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Suggestive associations of suicide with air pollutant concentrations have been reported. Recognizing regional and temporal variability of pollutant concentrations and of suicide, we undertook a detailed meta-analysis of completed suicides in relation to 5 major pollutants over 6 years in the 16 administrative regions of the Republic of Korea, while also controlling for other established influences on suicide rates. Of the 5 major pollutants examined, ozone concentrations had a powerful association with suicide rate, extending back to 4 weeks. Over the range of 2 standard deviations (SD) around the annual mean ozone concentration, the adjusted suicide rate increased by an estimated 7.8% of the annual mean rate. Particulate matter pollution also had a significant effect, strongest with a 4-week lag, equivalent to 3.6% of the annual mean rate over the same 2 SD range that approximated the half of annual observed range. These results strongly suggest deleterious effects of ozone and particulate matter pollution on the major public health problem of suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngdon Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Woojae Myung
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hong-Hee Won
- Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea
| | | | - Hong Jin Jeon
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Junbae Choi
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bernard J. Carroll
- Pacific Behavioral Research Foundation, Carmel, California, United States of America
| | - Doh Kwan Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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Campo-Arias A, Herazo E. Asociación entre desigualdad y tasa de suicidio en Colombia (1994-2013). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 44:28-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rcp.2014.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Short-term effects of the 2008 Great Recession on the health of the Italian population: an ecological study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2014; 49:851-8. [PMID: 24445578 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-014-0818-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 01/05/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To report on the effects on health that the 2008 Great Recession is producing in Italy, by comparing the consistency of Italian data with general observations reported in the scientific literature, and by pointing out consequences on the rates of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, male suicidal behaviours, daytime alcohol drinking and traffic fatalities. METHODS This is an ecological study in which MEDLINE, PsycINFO and PubMed were searched for the literature with combinations of the following keywords: economic recession, financial crisis, unemployment, health, suicide and mental health. Data from two Italian government agencies (Italian Institute of Statistics, ISTAT, and Italian Agency of Drugs, AIFA) in the years from 2000 to 2010 were obtained and analysed, by producing models of multiple linear regressions. RESULTS After the recession onset, all-cause mortality remained stable, and was not associated with the economic fluctuations. Differently, cardiovascular mortality was associated with the rate of unemployment, and showed a significant increase in 2010. Alcohol consumption increased in 2009, the year with the worst real GDP decrease (-5.1 %). Though the total rate of suicide was not associated with the economic situation, male completed and attempted suicides due to financial crisis were significantly associated with the rate of unemployment and the real GDP. The increasing diffusion of antidepressants was not associated with a lowering of the rate of suicide. CONCLUSIONS The data on the Italian situation here discussed are sufficiently reliable to conclude that a link exists between the ongoing economic recession and health and mental health of Italians. Further research is needed to understand more in detail and with stronger reliability such link, to support primary and secondary preventive interventions and orient the development of effective sociopolitical interventions.
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26
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Household composition and suicidal behaviour in the adult population of Belgium. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2013; 48:1115-24. [PMID: 23151963 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-012-0621-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2012] [Accepted: 11/01/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We aimed to estimate the prevalence of suicidal behaviours, i.e. ideation and attempt, in the adult population of Belgium, and to explore their association with household composition. METHODS Data of 4,459 adults (25-64 years) from the 2004 Belgian Health Interview Survey were used for analyses. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to calculate the odds of engaging in suicidal behaviours according to household type, further controlling for age, sex, income, employment status and social support. RESULTS Lifetime prevalence of ideation and attempts was 14 and 4.7 %, respectively. Current prevalence of ideation was 4.0 % and past year prevalence of attempts was 0.5 %. Compared to other household compositions, living alone (A) and as lone parent (P) increased the odds of lifetime and current suicidal thoughts (ORA 2.3, 95 % CI 1.7-2.9 and ORP 3.8, 95 % CI 1.9-7.7) and lifetime attempts (ORA 2.3, 95 % CI 1.4-3.6 and ORP 4.5, 95 % CI 2.4-8.5). When controlling for confounders, single person and single parent households still presented increased adjusted-odds of lifetime and current suicidal thoughts (a-ORA 1.8, 95 % CI 1.1-2.9 and a-ORP 2.3, 95 % CI 1.0-5.5). The likelihood of ever attempted suicide was also higher among single parent households (a-ORP 4.5, 95 % CI 2.4-8.5) after adjustment, but not among those living alone (a-ORA 1.4, 95 % CI 0.8-2.8). CONCLUSION Living alone or as lone parent place adults at higher risk for suicide behaviour, and this is only partly explained by lower socio-economic status or poor perceived support.
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Won HH, Myung W, Song GY, Lee WH, Kim JW, Carroll BJ, Kim DK. Predicting national suicide numbers with social media data. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61809. [PMID: 23630615 PMCID: PMC3632511 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2012] [Accepted: 03/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Suicide is not only an individual phenomenon, but it is also influenced by social and environmental factors. With the high suicide rate and the abundance of social media data in South Korea, we have studied the potential of this new medium for predicting completed suicide at the population level. We tested two social media variables (suicide-related and dysphoria-related weblog entries) along with classical social, economic and meteorological variables as predictors of suicide over 3 years (2008 through 2010). Both social media variables were powerfully associated with suicide frequency. The suicide variable displayed high variability and was reactive to celebrity suicide events, while the dysphoria variable showed longer secular trends, with lower variability. We interpret these as reflections of social affect and social mood, respectively. In the final multivariate model, the two social media variables, especially the dysphoria variable, displaced two classical economic predictors – consumer price index and unemployment rate. The prediction model developed with the 2-year training data set (2008 through 2009) was validated in the data for 2010 and was robust in a sensitivity analysis controlling for celebrity suicide effects. These results indicate that social media data may be of value in national suicide forecasting and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Hee Won
- Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul, Korea
| | - Woojae Myung
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- * E-mail: (WM); (DKK)
| | | | - Won-Hee Lee
- Mining Laboratory, Daumsoft, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Won Kim
- Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bernard J. Carroll
- Pacific Behavioral Research Foundation, Carmel, California, United States of America
| | - Doh Kwan Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- * E-mail: (WM); (DKK)
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Bando DH, Brunoni AR, Benseñor IM, Lotufo PA. Suicide rates and income in São Paulo and Brazil: a temporal and spatial epidemiologic analysis from 1996 to 2008. BMC Psychiatry 2012; 12:127. [PMID: 22928689 PMCID: PMC3502157 DOI: 10.1186/1471-244x-12-127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2011] [Accepted: 08/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In a classical study, Durkheim noted a direct relation between suicide rates and wealth in the XIX century France. Since that time, several studies have verified this relationship. It is known that suicide rates are associated with income, although the direction of this association varies worldwide. Brazil presents a heterogeneous distribution of income and suicide across its territory; however, evaluation for an association between these variables has shown mixed results. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between suicide rates and income in Brazil, State of São Paulo (SP), and City of SP, considering geographical area and temporal trends. METHODS Data were extracted from the National and State official statistics departments. Three socioeconomic areas were considered according to income, from the wealthiest (area 1) to the poorest (area 3). We also considered three regions: country-wide (27 Brazilian States and 558 Brazilian micro-regions), state-wide (645 counties of SP State), and city-wide (96 districts of SP city). Relative risks (RR) were calculated among areas 1, 2, and 3 for all regions, in a cross-sectional approach. Then, we used Joinpoint analysis to explore the temporal trends of suicide rates and SaTScan to investigate geographical clusters of high/low suicide rates across the territory. RESULTS Suicide rates in Brazil, the State of SP, and the city of SP were 6.2, 6.6, and 5.4 per 100,000, respectively. Taking suicide rates of the poorest area (3) as reference, the RR for the wealthiest area was 1.64, 0.88, and 1.65 for Brazil, State of SP, and city of SP, respectively (p for trend <0.05 for all analyses). Spatial cluster of high suicide rates were identified at Brazilian southern (RR = 2.37), state of SP western (RR = 1.32), and city of SP central (RR = 1.65) regions. A direct association between income and suicide were found for Brazil (OR = 2.59) and the city of SP (OR = 1.07), and an inverse association for the state of SP (OR = 0.49). CONCLUSIONS Temporospatial analyses revealed higher suicide rates in wealthier areas in Brazil and the city of SP and in poorer areas in the State of SP. We further discuss the role of socioeconomic characteristics for explaining these discrepancies and the importance of our findings in public health policies. Similar studies in other Brazilian States and developing countries are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel H Bando
- Doctoral Program of Sciences, Faculdade de Medicina, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andre R Brunoni
- Doctoral Program of Sciences, Faculdade de Medicina, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil,Department of Neurosciences and Behavior, Instituto de Psicologia, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Isabela M Benseñor
- Doctoral Program of Sciences, Faculdade de Medicina, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil,Clinical and Epidemiological Research Center, Hospital Universitário, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Paulo A Lotufo
- Doctoral Program of Sciences, Faculdade de Medicina, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil,Clinical and Epidemiological Research Center, Hospital Universitário, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil,Clinical and Epidemiological Research Center, Hospital Universitário, Av Lineu Prestes 2565, 3° andar – Centro de Pesquisas Clínicas, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Milner A, McClure R, De Leo D. Socio-economic determinants of suicide: an ecological analysis of 35 countries. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2012; 47:19-27. [PMID: 21079912 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-010-0316-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2010] [Accepted: 10/20/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE A long tradition of research has shown a relationship between suicide rates and socio-economic factors. However, most investigations have neglected to account for country-specific influences. The purpose of this study was to clarify the association between socio-economic variables and gender-specific suicide rates in 35 countries, using analytic techniques able to control for effects embedded within different country contexts. METHOD Data relating to male and female age-standardised suicide rates (obtained from the WHO Statistical Information System) were analysed using fixed-effect regression. The possible associations between suicide rates and social variables were tested using data for 35 countries over the period 1980-2006. RESULTS Findings indicated that higher male and female suicide rates were associated with increased female labour force participation, unemployment, and the proportion of persons over 65 years. Reductions in male and female suicide rates were associated with increased health spending per capita. The study also revealed that higher fertility was associated with a reduction in male suicide. Female labour force participation had a stronger effect on male suicide rates. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that variables related to the labour market and the economy were better explanatory factors of suicide rates than population-level indicators of interpersonal relationships. Although results were generally similar for males and females, males appeared to be more sensitive to changes in the social environment than women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Milner
- Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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