Suicide and poverty in low-income and middle-income countries: a systematic review

Unpacking the 'black box' of suicide: A latent class analysis predicting profiles of suicidal ideation in a longitudinal cohort of adolescent girls from India

INTRODUCTION

Indian women account for 37% of global suicide-related deaths. As suicide is a growing concern among adolescent girls, identifying the social determinants of suicide with this group targeted prevention. We selected social determinants that include intersectional identities and broader syndemics; we then used longitudinal data from a prospective cohort of adolescent girls from Northern India to classify them into unique profiles across multiple socioecological levels.

METHODS

Girls aged 10-19 (N = 11,864) completed self-report questionnaires measuring socio-demographic and trauma exposure variables. At three-year follow-up, they were asked to indicate current suicidal ideation (SI). We conducted latent class analysis (LCA) to classify profiles and then predicted risk of current SI at three-year follow-up.

RESULTS

LCA supported a four-class solution: a 'privileged' class (Class 1; n = 1,470), a 'modal' class (Class 2; n = 7,449), an 'intergenerational violence' class (Class 3; n = 2,113), and a 'psychological distress' class (Class 4; n = 732). Classes significantly predicted odds ratios (OR) for SI at follow up; women in Class 4 were associated with the greatest likelihood of SI (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.38, 2.47), suggesting that psychological distress factors confer greatest risk.

CONCLUSION

Results of the distinct classes of risk and protective factors indicate targets for policy-level interventions. Disrupting cycles of psychological distress and substance use, increasing access to behavioral interventions, and intervening to mitigate intergenerational violence may be particularly impactful with this population.

Reflections on the trends of suicide in Sri Lanka, 1997-2022: The need for continued vigilance

Despite reductions in suicide rates in Sri Lanka during the past decades, largely by introduction of national bans on highly hazardous pesticides, the country continues to record a higher than global average rate of suicide. With the changing availability of methods of suicide over time, we aimed to examine the age-standardized suicide rates in Sri Lanka by sex, age, and method between 1997 to 2022 using national police suicide data to identify trends. The rate of suicide in Sri Lanka in 2022 was 27/100,000 and 5/100,000, in males and females respectively, with an overall suicide rate of 15/100,000 population. When considering the previous decades, the overall rate of suicide has declined from 1997 until about 2015, in both sexes, driven by a drop in the numbers of suicides due to pesticide ingestion. In females the overall rates of suicide plateaued around 2015, but in males there has been an upward trend in overall suicide that started in 2016, mostly due to an increase in rates of hanging. Since 2016 rates of suicide by hanging have increased among older males, and young females (17-25 years). Whilst the current suicide rate in Sri Lanka is substantially lower than it was during the 1990s, the upward trend in hanging seen in the last few years, particularly among older men and young women, is of concern. Ongoing monitoring of suicide rates should be a priority during the next few years, to detect and respond to changes as soon as possible. There is an urgent need to address current risk factors for suicide in Sri Lanka, such as significant financial insecurity, unemployment, depression, alcohol misuse, and domestic violence, and to minimize media glamourization of hanging by suicide.

Teen Perspectives on Suicides and Deaths in an Affluent Community: Perfectionism, Protection, and Exclusion

Clusters of youth suicide and death are tragic for communities and present long-term consequences for the surviving youths. Despite an awareness of community-based patterns in youth suicide, our understanding of the social and community factors behind these events remains poor. While links between poverty and suicide have been well documented, wealthy communities are rarely targeted in suicide research. In response to this gap, we conducted ethnographic research in a wealthy U.S. town that, over a recent 10-year period, witnessed at least four youth suicides and seven more youth accidental deaths. Our interviews (n = 30) explored community values and stressors, interpersonal relationships, and high school experiences on participant perceptions of community deaths. Youth participants characterize their affluent community as having (1) perfectionist standards; (2) permissive and sometimes absent parents; (3) socially competitive and superficial relationships; and (4) a "bubble" that is protective but also exclusionary. Our qualitative findings reveal network influence in teen suicides and accidental deaths in a wealthy community. Greater attention paid to the negative effects of subcultural values and stressors in affluent communities is warranted. Further, our work promotes the value of ethnographic, community-based methodologies for suicidology and treatment.

The impact of sleep disturbances on suicide risk among people living HIV: An eleven-year national cohort

OBJECTIVES

The suicide rate among individuals who experience sleep disturbances is five times higher than in the general population. Up to 70 % of people living with HIV (PLHIV) experience sleep disturbances. This study's purpose was to determine whether this population has higher rates of suicide compared to those without sleep disorders. Possible risk factors were also explored.

METHODS

A secondary analysis of nationwide data on all males and females over 15 years old with HIV living in Taiwan was conducted from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2016. Sleep disturbances were identified through recorded diagnoses and medical treatments. Cox proportional hazard models and hazard ratios (HRs) and mediation analysis were employed to estimate the association between sleep disturbances and suicide risk during the follow-up period.

RESULTS

Of the 5680 PLHIV, 72 suicide events were reported. The suicide incidence rate among PLHIV suffering from sleep disturbances was 769 per 100,000 person-years. Sleep disturbances were associated with a significantly increased risk of suicide (AHR = 1.75, 95 % CI 1.02-3.02, p = 0.0429). A premium-based monthly salary of <24,000 (NT $) was also associated with an increased hazard of suicide (AHR = 4.14, 95 % CI 1.60-10.75, p = 0.0035). The pathway effect analysis using potential outcomes showed that depression did not mediate the effect of sleep disturbance on suicide.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep disturbances were associated with higher suicide rates, even after adjusting for pre-existing depression. These findings suggest that paying attention to suicidal ideation among PLHIV suffering from sleep disturbances is necessary.

Demographic and clinical correlates of suicidal ideation in individuals with at-risk mental state (ARMS): A study from Pakistan

BACKGROUND

Suicide is a major public health concern and one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. People with an at-risk-mental-state (ARMS) for psychosis are more vulnerable to psychiatric co-morbidity and suicide, however, there are limited data from low-middle-income countries. The present study aimed to identify the prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation along with sociodemographic and clinical correlates of suicidal ideation in individuals with ARMS from Pakistan.

METHOD

Participants between the age of 16 and 35 years who met the criteria for ARMS based on the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental State (CAARMS), were recruited from the community, general practitioner clinics and psychiatric units across Pakistan (n = 326). Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and Social-Occupational-Functional-Assessment-Scale (SOFAS) were administered to participants.

RESULTS

The prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts in the sample at baseline were 91.1% (n = 297) and 61.0% (n = 199), respectively. There were significant mean differences between groups (mean difference [95% CI]; p-value) without suicidal ideation and with suicidal ideation on measures of MADRS (-5.47 [-7.14, -3.81]; p < .001), CAARMS non-bizarre ideas (-0.29 [-0.47, -0.11]; p = .002) and perceptual abnormalities (-0.23 [-0.41, -0.04]; p = .015).

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms are highly prevalent in individuals with ARMS in Pakistan. Given the pivotal developmental stages that ARMS presents, and the poor outcomes associated with co-morbid depression, there is an urgent need to prioritize the development of low-cost and scalable evidence-based interventions to address psychiatric comorbidity and suicidality in the ARMS population in Pakistan.

Needs for mobile and internet-based psychological intervention in patients with self-injury and suicide-related behaviors: a qualitative systematic review

BACKGROUND

In recent years, mobile psychological interventions have proven effective in reducing self-injury and suicide-related behaviors. Therefore, it is essential to continually enhance the user experience and address patients' needs to facilitate the development of mobile mental health interventions. Identifying patients with mobile mental health needs can be challenging for mental health professionals. To address this, we conducted a systematic review of qualitative research to synthesize the needs of patients engaged in self-injury and suicide-related behaviors for mobile and internet-based psychological interventions.

METHODS

This study adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement (PRISMA) and the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research statement (ENTREQ). We explored 11 databases and synthesized the results using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Sixteen qualitative and mixed-method studies were included. The study found that the needs of patients with self-injury and suicide-related behaviors for mobile psychological intervention included therapy, technology, culture, privacy, communication, emotional support, personalization, and self-management. Consistent with the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the needs of patients with self-injury and suicide-related behaviors are influenced by the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of the mobile intervention. However, the findings also highlight the importance and unmet needs of peer support, communication, self-management, and empowerment in using mobile psychological interventions for patients with self-injury and suicide-related behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

Studies in this area have shown that the needs of patients with self-harm and suicide-related behaviors cover multiple stages, including basic therapeutic and technical needs and advanced emotional needs. This complexity makes it challenging to address the needs of patients engaged in self-injury and suicide-related behaviors through digital interventions. In the future, mental health professionals should be encouraged to participate in multidisciplinary collaborations to expand the use of digital interventions, enhancing remote self-management for patients and providing new strategies for the ongoing care of psychiatric patients. We registered the review protocol on PROSPERO (CRD42022324958).

Suicide Ideation within and outside the Perinatal Period: An Exploration of Interpersonal Factors from a Maternal Cohort in Rural Pakistan to Improve Intervention Targeting

OBJECTIVE

Suicide accounts for substantial mortality in low-resourced settings and contributes to nearly 20% of maternal deaths. In Asia, interpersonal conflict is a salient factor that contributes to suicidal thoughts and actions, yet limited research has been done to explore the type and timing of such conflicts and a woman's accompanying social support. Identifying such risk factors can inform improved efforts to identify who to target for psychosocial interventions.

METHODS

Using the Bachpan Cohort study of mothers in Pakistan (n = 1154), we examined the prevalence and interpersonal influences on SI within the past two weeks of pregnancy and then at 3, 6, and 24 months after birth. Using hierarchical mixed effects models, we explored the separate and combined associations of interpersonal factors [e.g., social support, interpersonal conflict, isolation, and past year intimate partner violence (IPV)] on SI at each timepoint.

RESULTS

SI prevalence was highest in pregnancy (12.2%) and dropped to 5% throughout two years postpartum. The interpersonal conflict was independently associated with increased odds of SI in pregnancy and 24 months postpartum. IPV was associated with increased SI in pregnancy and 24 months postpartum. Isolation was not associated with SI at any timepoint. Perceived social support remained a robust independent factor associated with reduced SI at all timepoints.

CONCLUSION

In addition to screening and deploying interventions for perinatal women with depression, targeting interventions for those who also experience interpersonal conflict, including intimate partner violence, may significantly reduce suicidal thoughts and related sequelae. Social support is a viable and potentially powerful target to reduce the burden of suicide among women.HIGHLIGHTSSuicidal ideation prevalence was higher in pregnancy compared to postpartum.Perceived social support was independently associated with reduced suicidal ideation.Interventions addressing suicide must attend to women's family and social context.

Childhood adversities and suicidal behavior in the general population. The cross-sectional PEGASUS-Murcia Project

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the present study is to estimate the lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts in a regional representative sample and the association of these outcomes with sociodemographic factors, prior mental disorders, and childhood adversities.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The PEGASUS-Murcia project is a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of adults in Murcia that is part of the WHO World Mental Health Survey Initiative. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 3.0) was administered face-to-face to 2621 participants (67.4% response rate). The main outcomes were suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts. Lifetime prevalence, age of onset, and risk factors (sociodemographic variables, mental disorders, and childhood adversities) were examined using multiple discrete-time survival models.

RESULTS

Lifetime prevalence of suicidal ideation, plans and attempts were 8.0% (standard error, SE: 1.1), 2.1% (SE: 0.3), and 1.2% (SE: 1.1), respectively. Prevalence of any childhood adversities was 22.1% (SE: 1.3) in the total sample and, even higher, among those with suicide related outcomes (ranging between 36.8% and 53.7%). Female sex, younger age, prior (to onset of the outcome) lifetime prevalence of mood disorders, number of mental disorders, and exposure to childhood adversity were associated with significantly increased odds of suicidal ideation and plans.

CONCLUSIONS

Lifetime prevalence estimates of suicidality are similar to those in community epidemiological surveys. Childhood adversities and mental disorders, especially mood disorders, are important risk factors for suicidality. Early detection of these adversities and disorders should be targeted in suicide prevention programs.

Suicide in a Colombian indigenous community: Beyond mental illness

BACKGROUND

Among the causes associated with suicide there are social factors such as forced displacement has been described and health factors in general that have an impact on pediatric mental health.

AIMS

To describe clinical and psychosocial factors, and their relationship with suicidal behavior in a Colombian indigenous community.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

The mean age were 9.23 years old, 53.7% male and 46.3% female.

METHOD

Mixed approach study. A thematic analysis was carried out with the youth of the community to investigate emotional aspects. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out and correlations between variables were made.

RESULTS

Correlations were found between suicidal behavior and medical findings. When comparing the mental health disorders and nutritional problems, statistically significant differences were found in the Suicide Risk domain (<.001). This was reaffirmed in the thematic analysis, where factors such as migration and difficulty understanding the language are highlighted as related to suicidal behavior in the pediatric population.

CONCLUSIONS

Suicidal behavior should not be approached solely from psychopathology. Hunger, the weakening of one's own culture, armed conflict, migration, and other clinical conditions are found to be associated with suicidal behavior.

Risk Factors of Suicide Attempt among Adolescents with Suicide Ideation in Low- and Middle-Income Countries across the Globe

Suicide is a serious public health problem for adolescents. Based on the framework of ideation-to-action, it is important to examine the factors associated with the translation from suicide ideation to suicide attempt. The present study aimed to investigate the risk factors of suicide attempts among adolescents with suicide ideation in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We analyzed data of students aged 12-18 years who participated in the 2009-2013 Global School-based Health Surveys (GSHS) in 39 LMICs. The Chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of suicide attempts among participants with suicide ideation, the multilevel logistic regression model was used to identify significant factors associated with suicide attempts among suicide ideators. Among 22,655 adolescents with suicide ideation, 55.1% of them reported having made a suicide attempt in the past year. Loneliness, anxiety, alcohol use, and drug use were risk factors for suicide attempts among suicide ideators. Strategies should be implemented to reduce the likelihood of adolescents acting on their suicidal thoughts, such as community psychological crisis line, school-based mental health and skills training programs, and family support for adolescents with psychological problems.

Uncovering the Hidden Burden of Pharmaceutical Poisoning in High-Income and Low-Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review

Pharmaceutical poisoning is a significant global public health concern, causing approximately 190,000 deaths annually. This scoping review aims to comprehensively map the available literature on pharmaceutical poisoning and compare patterns between high-income countries (HICs) and low-middle-income countries (LMICs). A systematic search was performed across the following databases: Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and CINAHL. Studies included were from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2020, in English, with full text available. Seventy-nine articles were included in the study; 21 were from LMICs and 58 were from HICs. Toxic exposure was largely intentional (77%) in LMICs and accidental (68%) in HICs. Drugs acting on the nervous system were responsible for 95% of toxicities worldwide with analgesics accounting for the largest subtherapeutic group in both LMICs (40%) and HICs (58%). Notable statistics were that HICs accounted for 99% of opioid overdoses, and LMICs accounted for 19% of anti-epileptic-induced toxicities. Overall, the medical outcomes due to poisonings were generally worse in LMICs. The review provides possible interventions to target specific geographic locations, based on the trends identified, to reduce the burden worldwide. Many gaps within the literature were recognised, calling for more robust analytical research.

The prevalence of suicidal behaviour and its associated risk factors among school-going adolescents resident in the United Arab Emirates

Suicidal behaviour which includes suicidal ideation, having a plan to commit suicide and suicide attempts remains a global public health issue as it substantially impacts adolescent health and wellbeing. Suicidal behaviour, however, remains understudied in Middle Eastern contexts. This study analysed data from the 2016 Global School-based Student Health Survey collected in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A sample of 5826 adolescents aged between 11 and 18 years were sampled. Potential risk factors associated with an elevated risk for engagement in suicidal behaviour were examined. These factors were stratified into categories for analysis (demographics, psychosocial, risky health, and socio-environmental). The age-adjusted prevalence of suicidal behaviour amongst the school-going adolescent population in the UAE was 54%. Analyses indicated that elevated risk was significantly associated with anxiety difficulties, the experience of loneliness, and amongst those who smoked tobacco. None of the socio-environmental factors emerged as significant. A dose-dependent relationship was evident in that the degree of risk that was evident appeared to compound as the number of adverse risk factors increased. The data suggest that suicidal behaviour may be highly prevalent in this location. Findings highlight the immense need to develop preventative interventions, some of which may be school-delivered and targeted at parents. Our findings provide initial indications as to which risk factors could be targeted for remediation in developing these interventions.

Antecedents, clinical and psychological characteristics of a large sample of individuals who have self-harmed recruited from primary care and hospital settings in Pakistan

BACKGROUND

Suicide is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and the majority of suicide deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

AIMS

To evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of individuals who have presented to health services following self-harm in Pakistan.

METHOD

This study is a cross-sectional baseline analysis of participants from a large multicentre randomised controlled trial of self-harm prevention in Pakistan. A total of 901 participants with a history of self-harm were recruited from primary care clinics, emergency departments and general hospitals in five major cities in Pakistan. The Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and Suicide Attempt Self Injury Interview assessment scales were completed.

RESULTS

Most participants recruited were females (n = 544, 60.4%) in their 20s. Compared with males, females had lower educational attainment and higher unemployment rates and reported higher severity scores on BSI, BDI and BHS. Interpersonal conflict was the most frequently cited antecedent to self-harm, followed by financial difficulties in both community and hospital settings. Suicide was the most frequently reported motive of self-harm (N = 776, 86.1%). Suicidal intent was proportionally higher in community-presenting patients (community: N = 318, 96.9% v. hospital: N = 458, 79.9%; P < 0.001). The most frequently reported methods of self-harm were ingestion of pesticides and toxic chemicals.

CONCLUSIONS

Young females are the dominant demographic group in this population and are more likely to attend community settings to seek help. Suicidal intent as the motivator of self-harm and use of potentially lethal methods may suggest that this population is at high risk of suicide.

Socioeconomic resources in youth are linked to divergent patterns of network integration and segregation across the brain's transmodal axis

Socioeconomic resources (SER) calibrate the developing brain to the current context, which can confer or attenuate risk for psychopathology across the lifespan. Recent multivariate work indicates that SER levels powerfully influence intrinsic functional connectivity patterns across the entire brain. Nevertheless, the neurobiological meaning of these widespread alterations remains poorly understood, despite its translational promise for early risk identification, targeted intervention, and policy reform. In the present study, we leverage the resources of graph theory to precisely characterize multivariate and univariate associations between household SER and the functional integration and segregation (i.e., participation coefficient, within-module degree) of brain regions across major cognitive, affective, and sensorimotor systems during the resting state in 5,821 youth (ages 9-10 years) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. First, we establish that decomposing the brain into profiles of integration and segregation captures more than half of the multivariate association between SER and functional connectivity with greater parsimony (100-fold reduction in number of features) and interpretability. Second, we show that the topological effects of SER are not uniform across the brain; rather, higher SER levels are related to greater integration of somatomotor and subcortical systems, but greater segregation of default mode, orbitofrontal, and cerebellar systems. Finally, we demonstrate that the effects of SER are spatially patterned along the unimodal-transmodal gradient of brain organization. These findings provide critical interpretive context for the established and widespread effects of SER on brain organization, indicating that SER levels differentially configure the intrinsic functional architecture of developing unimodal and transmodal systems. This study highlights both sensorimotor and higher-order networks that may serve as neural markers of environmental stress and opportunity, and which may guide efforts to scaffold healthy neurobehavioral development among disadvantaged communities of youth.

Suicidal Thinking Among Patients With Spinal Conditions in South Korea: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

Chronic pain increases the risk of suicide because it is often accompanied by depressive symptoms. However, the existing information regarding suicidal thinking in patients with chronic pain such as spinal conditions is insufficient. We aimed to examine the prevalence of suicidal thinking and the factors associated with it among patients with spinal conditions.

METHODS

Data from the National Health Insurance Service database in South Korea were used in this population-based, cross-sectional study, and 2.5% of adult patients diagnosed with spinal conditions (low back pain and/or neck pain) between 2018 and 2019 were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used to determine the presence of suicidal thoughts and depressive symptoms.

RESULTS

33,171 patients with spinal conditions were included in this study. Among them, 5.9% had suicidal thinking and 20.7% had depressive symptoms. In the multivariable logistic regression model, old age, male sex, and employment were associated with a decreased prevalence of suicidal thinking. Current smokers, previous smokers, medical aid program recipients, and patients with mild-to-moderate or severe disability showed increased suicidal thinking. Underlying depression, bipolar disorder, insomnia disorder, and substance abuse were also associated with increased suicidal thinking.

CONCLUSION

In South Korea, 5.9% and 20.7% of patients with spinal conditions had suicidal thoughts and depressive symptoms, respectively. Some factors were associated with an increased prevalence of suicidal thoughts among patients with spinal conditions. Our results suggest that screening for these factors can help prevent suicide in patients with spinal conditions.

Brief Report: Task-Shifting "Gold Standard" Clinical Assessment and Safety Planning for Suicide Risk Among People Living With HIV: A Feasibility and Fidelity Evaluation in Tanzania

BACKGROUND

Suicide is a leading cause of death among people living with HIV (PLWH) worldwide, with suicide deaths occurring twice as frequently among PLWH than among the general public. In Tanzania, resources for mental health care are sorely lacking, with 55 psychiatrists and psychologists providing treatment for 60 million people. In light of this shortage, nonspecialists play a crucial role. The objective of this study was to assess feasibility of implementing task-shifted screening, assessment, and safety planning for suicide risk among PLWH.

SETTING

Two adult HIV clinics in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

METHODS

Registered professional nurses in the HIV clinics were trained to administer brief screening of suicidal ideation in the past month. Patients experiencing suicidal ideation were referred to bachelor's-level counselors for further assessment and safety planning, supervised by specialist providers who reviewed audio recordings for quality assurance.

RESULTS

During 180 days of implementation, nurses screened patients attending 2745 HIV appointments. Sixty-one (2.2%) endorsed suicidal ideation and were linked to further assessment and safety planning. We cross-checked screening with clinic attendance logs on 7 random days and found high fidelity to screening (206 of 228 screened, 90%). Quality assurance ratings demonstrated key assessment pieces were consistently completed (mean = 9.3/10 possible), with "Good" to "Excellent" counseling skills (mean = 23.7/28) and "Good" to "Excellent" quality (mean = 17.1/20), including appropriate referral for higher levels of care.

CONCLUSIONS

Brief screening can be implemented and paired with task-shifted counseling to facilitate high-quality assessment of suicide risk. This model shows excellent potential to extend mental health services for PLWH in low-resource settings.

The Effects of Social Determinants and Resilience on the Mental Health of Chilean Adolescents

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of social determinants (i.e., gender, educational vulnerability, and socioeconomic status) and resilience on the mental health of Chilean adolescents in pre-, during, and post-COVID-19 pandemic contexts. The study included a group of 684 students, ranging in age from 12 to 18 years, who were attending educational institutions in the city of Arica. The Child and Adolescent Assessment System (SENA) was used to measure mental health problems, the Brief Resilience Scale for Children and Youth (CYRM-12) was used to measure resilience, and the Vulnerability Index of Educational Institutions was used to measure educational vulnerability. The results suggest increases in depressive, anxious, and social anxiety symptomatologies over time (wave by year, 2018, 2020, and 2021). In addition, multiple linear regression models showed predictive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, gender, vulnerability index, socioeconomic status, and resilient behaviors on mental health problems. The worsening of mental health indicators over time requires the greater coordination and integration of mental health experts in the most vulnerable educational centers.

The use of advanced technology and statistical methods to predict and prevent suicide

In the past decade, two themes have emerged across suicide research. First, according to meta-analyses, the ability to predict and prevent suicidal thoughts and behaviours is weaker than would be expected for the size of the field. Second, review and commentary papers propose that technological and statistical methods (such as smartphones, wearables, digital phenotyping and machine learning) might become solutions to this problem. In this Review, we aim to strike a balance between the pessimistic picture presented by these meta-analyses and the optimistic picture presented by review and commentary papers about the promise of advanced technological and statistical methods to improve the ability to understand, predict and prevent suicide. We divide our discussion into two broad categories. First, we discuss the research aimed at assessment, with the goal of better understanding or more accurately predicting suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Second, we discuss the literature that focuses on prevention of suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Ecological momentary assessment, wearables and other technological and statistical advances hold great promise for predicting and preventing suicide, but there is much yet to do.

Contextual factors associated with country-level suicide mortality in the Americas, 2000-2019: a cross-sectional ecological study

Background

The suicide mortality rate in the Region of the Americas has been increasing, while decreasing in all other World Health Organization regions; highlighting the urgent need for enhanced prevention efforts. Gaining a better understanding of population-level contextual factors associated with suicide may aid such efforts. We aimed to evaluate the contextual factors associated with country-level, sex-specific suicide mortality rates in the Region of the Americas for 2000-2019.

Methods

Annual sex-specific age-standardized suicide mortality estimates were obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Health Estimates database. To investigate the sex-specific suicide mortality rate trend over time in the region, we performed joinpoint regression analysis. We then applied a linear mixed model to estimate the effects of specific contextual factors on the suicide mortality rate across countries in the region over time. All potentially relevant contextual factors, obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 covariates and The World Bank, were selected in a step-wise manner.

Findings

We found that the mean country-level suicide mortality rate among males in the region decreased as health expenditure per capita and the proportion of the country with a moderate population density increased; and increased as the death rate due to homicide, prevalence of intravenous drug use, risk-weighted prevalence of alcohol use, and unemployment rate increased. The mean country-level suicide mortality rate among females in the region decreased as the number of employed medical doctors per 10,000 population and the proportion of the country with a moderate population density increased; and increased when relative education inequality and unemployment rate increased.

Interpretation

Although there was some overlap, the contextual factors that significantly impacted the suicide mortality rate among males and females were largely different, which mirrors the current literature on individual-level risk factors for suicide. Taken together, our data supports that sex should be considered when adapting and testing suicide risk reduction interventions, and when developing national suicide prevention strategies.

Funding

This work received no funding.

Psychological, Structural, Social and Economic Determinants of Suicide Attempt: Risk Assessment and Decision Making Strategies

The aim of this research was to conduct a risk assessment and management of psychological, structural, social and economic determinants (PSSED) in a suicide attempt. The sample consisted of 353 individuals who had a recorded history of suicidal attempt; and 20 professional individuals by purposive sampling method within a descriptive cross-sectional design. Worksheets for RAM and AHP were used for data collection in this study. The rate of suicide attempt was 7.21 per 100,000 population in this study. Analysis showed that depression and mental disorders; personality disorders; family problems; socio-cultural and economic problems; lack of awareness; and low level of education have a high level of risk for suicide attempts. Psychiatric and psychological services; awareness and knowledge of life skills; medical services to dysfunctional families; development of community-based planning for PSSED of suicide; and employment and entrepreneurship services may lower suicide attempt risk.

The shared genetic architecture of suicidal behaviour and psychiatric disorders: A genomic structural equation modelling study

Background: Suicidal behaviour (SB) refers to behaviours, ranging from non-fatal suicidal behaviour, such as suicidal ideation and attempt, to completed suicide. Despite recent advancements in genomic technology and statistical methods, it is unclear to what extent the spectrum of suicidal behaviour is explained by shared genetic aetiology. Methods: We identified nine genome-wide association statistics of suicidal behaviour (sample sizes, n, ranging from 62,648 to 125,844), ten psychiatric traits [n up to 386,533] and collectively, nine summary datasets of anthropometric, behavioural and socioeconomic-related traits [n ranging from 58,610 to 941,280]. We calculated the genetic correlation among these traits and modelled this using genomic structural equation modelling, identified shared biological processes and pathways between suicidal behaviour and psychiatric disorders and evaluated potential causal associations using Mendelian randomisation. Results: Among populations of European ancestry, we observed strong positive genetic correlations between suicide ideation, attempt and self-harm (rg range, 0.71-1.09) and moderate to strong genetic correlations between suicidal behaviour traits and a range of psychiatric disorders, most notably, major depression disorder (rg = 0.86, p = 1.62 × 10^-36). Multivariate analysis revealed a common factor structure for suicidal behaviour traits, major depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and alcohol use disorder. The derived common factor explained 38.7% of the shared variance across the traits. We identified 2,951 genes and 98 sub-network hub genes associated with the common factor, including pathways associated with developmental biology, signal transduction and RNA degradation. We found suggestive evidence for the protective effects of higher household income level on suicide attempt [OR = 0.55 (0.44-0.70), p = 1.29 × 10^-5] and while further investigation is needed, a nominal significant effect of smoking on suicide attempt [OR = 1.24 (1.04-1.44), p = 0.026]. Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence of shared aetiology between suicidal behaviour and psychiatric disorders and indicate potential common molecular mechanisms contributing to the overlapping pathophysiology. These findings provide a better understanding of the complex genetic architecture of suicidal behaviour and have implications for the prevention and treatment of suicidal behaviour.

Prevalence of suicide ideation, self-harm, and suicide among Chinese patients with schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aims

Suicide ideation, self-harm, and suicide are common in patients with schizophrenia, but the reported prevalence vary largely across studies. Improved prevalence estimates and identification of moderators of the above self-directed violence are needed to enhance recognition and care, and to guide future management and research. This systematic review aims to estimate the pooled prevalence and identify moderators of suicide ideation, self-harm, and suicide among patients diagnosed with schizophrenia in China.

Methods

Relevant articles published until September 23, 2021, were searched using PubMed, EBSCO, Web of Science, Embase, Science Direct, CNKI, CBM, VIP, and Wanfang databases. Eligible studies published in English or Chinese which reported the prevalence of suicide ideation, self-harm, or suicide among Chinese patients with schizophrenia were collected. All studies passed a quality evaluation. This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (registration number CRD42020222338). PRISMA guidelines were used in extracting and reporting data. Random-effects meta-analyses were generated using the meta package in R.

Results

A total of 40 studies were identified, 20 of which were evaluated as high-quality studies. Based on these studies, the prevalence of lifetime suicide ideation was 19.22% (95% CI: 7.57-34.50%), prevalence of suicide ideation at the time of investigation was 18.06% (95% CI: 6.49-33.67%), prevalence of lifetime self-harm was 15.77% (95% CI: 12.51-19.33%), and prevalence of suicide was 1.49% (95% CI: 0.00-7.95%). Multivariate meta-regression analysis revealed that age (β = - 0.1517, p = 0.0006) and dependency ratio (β = 0.0113, p < 0.0001) were associated with the lifetime prevalence of self-harm. Study assessment score (β = 0.2668, p < 0.0001) and dependency ratio (β = 0.0050, p = 0.0145) were associated with the lifetime prevalence of suicide ideation. Results of the spatial analysis showed that the prevalence of self-directed violence varied greatly across different provinces.

Conclusion

This systematic review provides estimates of the prevalence of self-directed violence among Chinese patients with schizophrenia and explores its moderators and spatial patterns. Findings also have important implications for allocating prevention and intervention resources to targeted high-risk populations in high prevalence areas.

Depressive symptoms and associated factors among persons with physical disabilities in disability care homes of Kathmandu district, Nepal: A mixed method study

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders, affecting 300 million people worldwide and 75% of these occur in low- and middle-income countries. Persons with physical disabilities are vulnerable groups and are more prone to experience depressive symptoms than the general population. This study investigated the prevalence of depressive symptoms and the associated factors among persons with a physical disability. We conducted a concurrent triangulation mixed methods design using Beck's Depression Inventory scale among 162 persons with physical disabilities in the Kathmandu district. In parallel, eight in-depth interviews were conducted with an interview guideline to collect the participants' perceptions and experiences of disability. Both quantitative and qualitative findings were integrated into the results. We found that about 77% of the participants with a physical disability had experienced depressive symptoms. Unemployment status (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0-7.3) and comorbidity (AOR 2.5, 95% CI 1.0-6.0) had a statistically significant association with depressive symptoms. The majority of people with physical disabilities had negative experiences with societal prejudice and coping with their limitations. They were depressed as well as angry over having to stop their careers, education, and possibilities. Nevertheless, they were significantly happier and less sad than in their earlier years of life because of the possibilities, family environment, improved means of subsistence, therapeutic facilities, and supportive atmosphere at disability care homes. The policymakers should focus on preventing comorbidity and providing technical skills to persons with physical disabilities to improve their employment status and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Worry-related sleep problems and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among adolescents in 88 low-, middle-, and high-income countries: an examination of individual- and country-level factors

A strong association between sleep problems and suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) has been demonstrated in high-income countries. The sleep-STB relationship, however, is minimally understood among youth in low and middle-incomes countries. There also is a limited understanding of how individual- (i.e., age, sex) and country-level (i.e., economic inequality, economic quality) factors may moderate the magnitude of the sleep-STB association among youth. Data were analyzed from the cross-national Global School-based Health Survey 2003-2017, which assessed a range of health behaviors among school-enrolled adolescents aged 11-18 years from 88 low-, lower-middle, upper-middle, and high-income countries. Multilevel models were used to examine the influence of individual- and country-level factors on the association between past-year worry-related sleep problems and past-year suicide ideation, suicide plans, and suicide attempts. Worry-related sleep problems were significantly associated with suicide ideation, plans, and attempts. Adolescent sex, country economic quality (income group designation), and country economic inequality moderated the sleep-STB association, but age did not. The sleep-STB relationship was stronger for males and across macroeconomic indices, the relationship was generally strongest among upper-middle income countries (economic quality) and countries with a big income gap (economic inequality). When examining how individual-level factors differentially affected the sleep-STB relationship within economic quality (income group designation), the effects were driven by older adolescents in high-income countries for suicide ideation and suicide plans. Study findings suggest an important role for global macroeconomic factors, for males, and older adolescents in high-income countries in the sleep-STB relationship. Future directions include expanding worldwide coverage of countries, assessing a wider range of sleep problems, and longitudinal work to understand potential mechanisms in the sleep-STB relationship.

Intergenerational social mobility and suicide risk by firearm and other means in US males

Firearms are the leading method of suicide in US men, and socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with suicide risk. In this 40-year mortality follow-up of a national cohort of US men, we examined if improved SES relative to one's family of origin, upward intergenerational social mobility (ISM), is associated with lowered risk for firearm suicide and suicide by other means in US men. Family of origin SES was assessed as part of Project Talent, a broad survey of US high school students in 1960. 42,766 men in the cohort completed follow-up surveys at age 29, assessing attained SES via education, occupation, and income. ISM was measured by change between harmonized SES composites. Mortality follow-up was conducted through age 70. Adjusting for baseline SES and race/ethnicity, a 1 standard deviation increase in SES was associated with a 31% reduction in firearm suicide risk later in the life course (HR [95% CI] = 0·69 [0·54, 0·88], P = 0·003), and a smaller, non-significant reduction in suicide by other means (HR [95% CI] = 0·80 [0·60, 1·07], P = 0·136). Traits associated with both suicide and SES attainment (cognitive ability, calm, impulsivity) only modestly attenuated this association. Upward ISM was more strongly associated with reduced firearm suicide risk in males with parents of low SES. The association between upward ISM and reduced firearm suicide mortality risk prevailed over ensuing decades. Policies improving social mobility in US males, particularly those of lower SES, may function as de-facto firearm suicide prevention strategies.

Gender differences in suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide death among people living with HIV : A systematic review and meta‐analysis

OBJECTIVE

Although excess mortality, especially suicide, is a critical trait in people living with HIV, consensus about gender differences in these areas is lacking. We conducted meta-analyses to examine gender differences in suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and suicide death among people living with HIV.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed and Web of Science for studies written in English. In this review, suicide among people living with HIV includes suicide death, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts. Studies reporting the suicide prevalence among males and females living with HIV were eligible for inclusion in our review. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) served as the effect size index. Fixed-effects or random-effects meta-analyses were chosen based on the size of the heterogeneity.

RESULTS

A total of 27 studies comprising 801 017 participants from 11 countries were included in the meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of suicidal ideation was 18.0% (95% CI 13.3%-22.8%) in males and 20.8% (95% CI 16.4%-25.1%) in females, and there was a statistically significant higher risk of suicidal ideation in females living with HIV (OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.09-1.56; p < 0.05). The overall prevalence of suicide attempts was 16.8% (95% CI 9.0%-24.5%) in males and 24.7% (95% CI 12.4%-37.1%) in females, and there was a statistically significant higher risk of suicide attempts in females living with HIV (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.02-1.75; p < 0.05). The pooled prevalence of suicide death was 1.2% (95% CI 0.5%-1.9%) among males and 0.2% (95% CI 0.1%-0.3%) among females, and the risk of suicide death between genders was not statistically significant (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.50-1.24; p = 0.298).

CONCLUSIONS

There were gender differences in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among people living with HIV. Females living with HIV were more likely to experience suicidal ideation and make suicide attempts, but there were no statistically significant gender differences in suicide death. Appropriate initiatives to optimize the recognition, treatment, and management suicide behaviours of males and females living with HIV may narrow this gender gap.

Subjective poverty, mental health, and mortality among Chinese older people: a prospective cohort study from 2008 to 2018

PURPOSE

The associations of duration of subjective poverty and poverty status with mortality among older people remains inconclusive, and the underlying mechanisms of mental health on them are rarely discussed in population-based epidemiological studies.

METHODS

We used the data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) (2008-2018). The Cox regression model was used to estimate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mortality. Mediation analysis was applied to assess the effect of mental health.

RESULTS

When compared with participants without subjective poverty, those who reported subjective poverty at one time point (2008 or 2011) or two time points (2008 and 2011) had a higher risk of death, with multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CIs) of 1.08 (1.00-1.16) and 1.22 (1.06-1.39), respectively. For poverty status, the multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CIs) of mortality were 0.81 (0.66-0.98) for "just objective poverty" and 0.78 (0.62-0.98) for "neither subjective nor objective poverty" compared with participants who reported "just subjective poverty", while there was no statistically significant association between "poverty subjectively and objectively" and mortality (HR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.72-1.07). Besides, we found that the proportion mediated by mental health was 26.6%, and age was a significant effect modifier.

CONCLUSIONS

Subjective poverty may be associated with a higher risk of death among Chinese older people. This study showed that promoting mental health alone may not substantially reduce socioeconomic inequality in health. Further explorations of measures to tackle the social determinants of health are still needed.

The effects of peer bullying and poverty on suicidality in Chinese left behind adolescents: The mediating role of psychotic-like experiences

AIM

This study investigated the influence of childhood adversity, such as peer bullying and socioeconomic status, on the suicidal behaviour of left-behind Chinese adolescents to determine whether psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) mediated the associations between these childhood adversities and suicidality; suicidal ideation (serious thoughts about taking one's own life), suicide plans, and suicide attempts.

METHODS

A representative group of rural adolescents (n = 3346) was recruited from 16 rural high schools in China. Suicidality was assessed using the suicide module from the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Kid. Participants also completed questionnaires on bullying, socioeconomic status, left-behind characteristics, and PLEs. Structural equation modelling was then employed to explore the relationships between these variables.

RESULTS

Peer bullying, poverty, and left-behind status were all found to significantly increase adolescent suicide risk, the relationships between which were mediated by PLEs. Peer bullying was found to play the most significant role in the PLEs and suicidality, with the risk of suicide increasing with the length of time a child had been left behind.

CONCLUSION

Adverse life events can lead to a high risk of PLEs, which in turn can increase the risk of suicide. These results could assist in identifying individuals at risk of suicidality and the design of appropriate interventions. The results also highlighted the role PLEs play in suicidality and highlighted the need for further research in this area.

'They Sent Me Out to School, and I Came Back with a Baby': Perinatal Women's Experiences of Biographical Disruption and Nonfatal Suicidal Behaviour

Exploring perinatal women's experience of nonfatal suicidal behaviour (NFSB) could help illuminate the contexts in which perinatal suicide occurs and new ways to conceptualise maternal suicide prevention. Our aim was to explore perinatal women's subjective experience of NFSB in South Africa. Data were collected via in-depth interviews with seven perinatal women hospitalised following NFSB. Thematic analysis showed how poverty and gender norms shape experiences of pregnancy and highlighted the need for eco-systemic interventions for perinatal women in resource scarce environments to increase social support, assist with childcare, improve educational retention, challenge gender norms and increase paternal involvement. Pregnancy can precipitate biographical disruption by disturbing women's view of themselves and their futures. An inability to reconstruct a coherent narrative and re-imagine the future impedes the transition to motherhood and provides a context for suicide. Using the concept of biographical disruption to frame perinatal suicide, could identify novel approaches to suicide prevention.

Factors associated with suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic in a population in the Brazilian Legal Amazon

This article aims to analyze the factors associated with suicidal ideation in the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional home-based survey, with three-stage cluster sampling, was conducted with 4,203 adults from ten municipalities in the Mato Grosso, Brazil. The data collection was carried households to assessment of sociodemographic characteristics, substance use and behavior in the pandemic. The Level 1 Symptom Cross Scale was used to identify suicidal ideation and aspects of mental health (somatic symptoms, sleep disturbances, dissociation, depression, anger, mania, anxiety, thoughts, substance use and memory). Chemiluminescence was used to detect IgG anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 19.2%, and the associated with increased consumption of alcohol (RP=1.16), smoking (RP=1.30), COVID-19 symptoms (RP=1.03), having one's life affected (RP=1.04), mental illness (RP=1.09) somatic symptoms (RP=1.15), sleep disturbance (RP=1.30), dissociation (RP=1.24), depression (RP=1.24), anger (RP=1.11), anxiety (RP=1.26), substance use (RP=1.19), drug prescription use (RP=1.18) and memory (RP=1.87). Highlights the high prevalence of suicidal ideation related to COVID-19 symptoms, changes in behavior post-pandemic and mental health factors.

The Impact of Mortality Salience, Negative Emotions and Cultural Values on Suicidal Ideation in COVID-19: A Conditional Process Model

As suicides incurred by the COVID-19 outbreak keep happening in many countries, researchers have raised concerns that the ongoing pandemic may lead to "a wave of suicides" in society. Suicidal ideation (SI) is a critical factor in conducting suicide intervention and also an important indicator for measuring people's mental health. Therefore, it is vital to identify the influencing factors of suicidal ideation and its psychological mechanism during the outbreak. Based on the terror management theory, in the present study we conducted a social media big data analysis to explore the joint effects of mortality salience (MS), negative emotions (NE), and cultural values on suicidal ideation in 337 regions on the Chinese mainland. The findings showed that (1) mortality salience was a positive predictor of suicidal ideation, with negative emotions acting as a mediator; (2) individualism was a positive moderator in the first half-path of the mediation model; (3) collectivism was a negative moderator in the first half-path of the mediation model. Our findings not only expand the application of the terror management theory in suicide intervention but provide some insights into post-pandemic mental healthcare. Timely efforts are needed to provide psychological interventions and counseling on outbreak-caused negative emotions in society. Compared with people living in collectivism-prevailing regions, those living in individualism-prevailing regions may be more vulnerable to mortality salience and negative emotions and need more social attention.

Risk-Taking Behavior among Suicide Attempters

Background: Suicidal behavior is a major mental health concern both for the individual and for the public health. Among others, suicidal behavior is associated with impulsivity, risk taking, pain tolerance, and a state of overarousal. In the present study, we investigated if suicide attempters (SAs) reported higher scores for risk-taking when compared with healthy controls (HC) of the general population. Methods: A total of 616 individuals (mean age: 27.07 years; 51.5% females) took part in the study; of those, 240 (39%) were individuals with a suicide attempt (SA) within a time lapse of one to three months, and 376 (61%) were healthy controls (HC). Participants completed a series of self-rating questionnaires covering sociodemographic information, risk-taking (Risk-Taking Questionnaire 18; RT-18), and suicidal behavior (Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised; SBQ-R). Results: Compared with HCs, individuals with SA reported higher risk-taking and suicidal behavior scores. The risk-taking questionnaire yielded a four-factor solution: Thrill and sensation seeking; Cautious procedure; Cautious decision making; Impulsive behavior. Compared with HCs, SAs showed the highest scores for thrill and sensation seeking and impulsive behavior. Conclusions: Compared with healthy controls, individuals reporting a recent suicide attempt also reported a higher propensity to thrill and sensation seeking and impulsive behavior as a proxy of risk-taking behavior. The present results corroborate the notion that, among others, suicide attempts appeared to be less related to premeditation, but rather to impulsive and thus spontaneous behavior.

Relationship between the Bolsa Família national cash transfer programme and suicide incidence in Brazil: A quasi-experimental study

BACKGROUND

Socioeconomic factors have been consistently associated with suicide, and economic recessions are linked to rising suicide rates. However, evidence on the impact of socioeconomic interventions to reduce suicide rates is limited. This study investigates the association of the world's largest conditional cash transfer programme with suicide rates in a cohort of half of the Brazilian population.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We used data from the 100 Million Brazilian Cohort, covering a 12-year period (2004 to 2015). It comprises socioeconomic and demographic information on 114,008,317 individuals, linked to the "Bolsa Família" programme (BFP) payroll database, and nationwide death registration data. BFP was implemented by the Brazilian government in 2004. We estimated the association of BFP using inverse probability of treatment weighting, estimating the weights for BFP beneficiaries (weight = 1) and nonbeneficiaries by the inverse probability of receiving treatment (weight = E(ps)/(1-E(ps))). We used an average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) estimator and fitted Poisson models to estimate the incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for suicide associated with BFP experience. At the cohort baseline, BFP beneficiaries were younger (median age 27.4 versus 35.4), had higher unemployment rates (56% versus 32%), a lower level of education, resided in rural areas, and experienced worse household conditions. There were 36,742 suicide cases among the 76,532,158 individuals aged 10 years, or older, followed for 489,500,000 person-years at risk. Suicide rates among beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries were 5.4 (95% CI = 5.32, 5.47, p < 0.001) and 10.7 (95% CI = 10.51, 10.87, p < 0.001) per 100,000 individuals, respectively. BFP beneficiaries had a lower suicide rate than nonbeneficiaries (IRR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.42, 0.45, p < 0.001). This association was stronger among women (IRR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.33, 0.38, p < 0.001), and individuals aged between 25 and 59 (IRR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.40, 0.43, p < 0.001). Study limitations include a lack of control for previous mental disorders and access to means of suicide, and the possible under-registration of suicide cases due to stigma.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed that BFP was associated with lower suicide rates, with similar results in all sensitivity analyses. These findings should help to inform policymakers and health authorities to better design suicide prevention strategies. Targeting social determinants using cash transfer programmes could be important in limiting suicide, which is predicted to rise with the economic recession, consequent to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Do social protection programmes have a causal effect on suicide mortality? A protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Recent international and national strategies to reduce suicide mortality have suggested that social protection programmes may be an effective multisectoral response given the link between material deprivation and suicides in observational studies. However, there is a lack of evidence on the causal relationship between social protection programmes and suicide, which may hinder substantial national budget reallocations necessary to implement these policies. Social protection programmes are government interventions that ensure adequate income now and in the future, through changes to earned income (eg, minimum wage increase) or social security (via cash transfers or cash equivalents). Our review aims to evaluate the existing evidence on a causal relationship between social protection programmes and suicide mortality by examining all relevant experimental and quasi-experimental studies between January 1980 and November 2021.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The review will be conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline. We will search references published between 1 January 1980 and 30 November 2021 in 10 electronic databases, including MEDLINE (PubMed), PsycINFO, EMBASE and Applied Social Sciences Index Abstracts. Seven reviewers will independently participate in screening studies from titles, abstracts and full texts across all the stages. Experimental (ie, randomised controlled trials) and quasi-experimental studies (ie, non-randomised interventional studies) written in English, French, Spanish, German, Chinese, Korean and Japanese examining the impact of income security programmes on suicide mortality were included. Meta-analyses will be conducted if there are at least three studies with similar income security programmes.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Our proposed review does not require ethical approval. In collaboration with our community partners, we will develop a policy brief for stakeholders to support efforts to implement social protection programmes to help prevent suicides. Our findings will be presented at conferences, published in a peer-reviewer journal and promoted on social media platforms.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42021252235.

Valued attributes of professional support for people who repeatedly self-harm: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of first-hand accounts

Therapeutic interventions are an important adjunct to self-help strategies for people who self-harm. There is little guidance for those offering therapy on the effective components of interventions for people who self-harm. This was a systematic review aiming to identify the factors that contribute to positive experiences of therapy as described by people who have reduced or stopped self-harm. The review followed PRISMA guidelines to locate and synthesize peer-reviewed qualitative studies describing experiences of therapy among people who had reduced or stopped self-harm. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were peer reviewed and conducted for at least two researchers independently. Relevant first-hand quotations were extracted from eligible studies and synthesized using a thematic analysis in collaboration with experts with personal and professional experience of self-harm. Twenty-three studies met eligibility criteria. Themes identified in the reported accounts were arranged under two meta-themes. 'Positive aspects of seeing a professional' identified aspects of professional care that were common to all encounters: the value of sharing, space to talk and reflect, and the boundaries inherent in contact with a professional. 'Positive attributes of individual professionals' depended upon individual characteristics: the ability to build reciprocal trust by being non-judgemental, showing genuine empathic concern, and being confident to talk about and respond directly to self-harm. Our review indicates that therapeutic alliance is perceived as key to effective professional help for self-harm, irrespective of underlying principles of therapy. All forms of therapy should be timely and reliable and centred around the needs of the individual and their experience of self-harm.

Socioeconomic and environmental contexts of suicidal rates in a latitudinal gradient: Understanding interactions to inform public health interventions

Suicide results from complex interactions between biological, psychological, and socioeconomic factors. At the population level, the study of suicide rates and their environmental and social determinants allows us to disentangle some of these complexities and provides support for policy design and preventive actions. In this study we aim to evaluate the associations between environmental and socioeconomic factors and demographically stratified suicide rates on large temporal and spatial scales. Our dataset contains information about yearly suicides rates by sex and age from 2000 through 2017 along a 4000 km latitudinal gradient. We used zero-inflated negative binomial models to evaluate the spatio-temporal influence of each environmental and socioeconomic variable on suicide rates at each sex/age combination. Overall, we found differential patterns of associations between suicide rates and explanatory variables by age and sex. Suicide rates in men increases in middle and high latitude regions and intermediate age classes. For adolescent and adult women, we found a similar pattern with an increase in suicide rates at middle and high latitudes. Sex differences measured by the male/female suicide ratio shows a marked increase with age. We found that cloudiness has a positive effect on suicide rates in both men and women 24 years old or younger. Regional poverty shows a major impact on men in age classes above 35 years old, an effect that was absent in women. Alcohol and marijuana consumption showed no significant effect sizes. Our findings support high spatio-temporal variability in suicide rates in interaction with extrinsic factors. Several strong differential impacts of environmental and socioeconomic variables on suicide rates depending on sex and age were detected. These results suggest that the design of public policies and interventions to reduce suicide prevalence need to consider the local social and environmental contexts of target populations.

Content analysis of reports of student suicide deaths in South African print medium newspapers

Purpose

The aim was to assess the quality of newspaper reporting of university student suicides in South Africa, using the World Health Organisation guidelines. Suicide among university students is a growing public health problem. The media has an important role to play in preventing student suicides by adhering to international best practice guidelines on ethical reporting of suicides.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted a content analysis of print medium newspaper articles in the 13 most widely read English language South African newspapers from the period of January 2017 to January 2020.

Findings

The initial search yielded a total of 28 news reports, of which 19 met this study’s inclusion criteria and were analysed using content analysis. The quality of reporting showed both potentially harmful and helpful characteristics. Poor adherence to international reporting guidelines were found in the description of method and location of suicide, sensational headlines, publishing photos of the deceased, linking suicide to criminality, simplistic narration of the life events leading to the suicide and use of sensational and potentially triggering language. No reports adhered to all reporting guidelines. Findings suggests that there are widespread potentially unhelpful practices in the reporting of student suicides and a need for suicide prevention experts to work with journalists to promote critical reflexivity and ethical reasoning when writing about student suicides.

Research limitations/implications

This study only included news reports published in English in the most widely read newspapers.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study of its kind to systematically examine media reporting on suicide in South Africa.

Offspring's risk for suicidal behaviour in relation to parental death by suicide: systematic review and meta-analysis and a model for familial transmission of suicide

BACKGROUND

Exposure to parental suicide has been associated with increased risk for suicide and suicide attempts, although the strength of this association is unclear as evidence remains inconsistent.

AIMS

To quantify this risk using meta-analysis and identify potential effect modifiers.

METHOD

A systematic search in PubMed, PsycInfo and Embase databases to 2020 netted 3614 articles. Inclusion criteria were: observation of history of parental death by suicide, comparison with non-exposed populations and definition of suicide and suicide attempt according to standardised criteria. We focused on population-based studies. The primary outcome was the pooled relative risk (RR) for incidence of suicide attempt and suicide in offspring of a parent who died by suicide compared with offspring of two living parents. Additionally, we compared the RR for attempted and completed suicide after parental suicide with the RR for attempted and completed suicide after parental death by other causes.

RESULTS

Twenty studies met our inclusion criteria. Offspring exposed to parental suicide were more likely to die by suicide (RR = 2.97, 95% CI 2.50-3.53) and attempt suicide (RR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.58-1.96) than offspring of two living parents. Furthermore, their risk of dying by or attempting suicide was significantly higher compared with offspring bereaved by other causes of death.

CONCLUSIONS

The experience of losing a parent to suicide is a strong and independent risk factor for suicidal behaviour in offspring. Our findings highlight the need for prevention strategies, outreach programmes and support interventions that target suicide-related outcomes in the exposed population.

Criminalisation of suicide and suicide rates: an ecological study of 171 countries in the world

OBJECTIVE

In the last half of the 20th century, many countries have already abolished antisuicide laws; however, more than 20 countries still adopt them. This paper is the first to systematically explore the association between criminalisation of suicide and national suicide rates in 171 countries/regions to examine the deterring effects of the antisuicide laws.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional ecological study.

SETTING

171 countries in the world.

PARTICIPANTS

In 2012, 25 countries were identified to carry antisuicide laws. A linear regression analysis was adopted to explore the association between national suicide rates (log transformed) and criminalisation of suicide in the world in 2012, having controlled for the Human Development Index (HDI), majority religious affiliations and the national unemployment rate.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Sex-specific age standardised suicide mortality rates.

RESULTS

Criminalisation of suicide was associated with slightly increased national suicide rates (β estimate=0.29, 95% CI -0.04 to 0.61). Stronger association was found in women (β estimate=0.40, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.74), connecting criminalisation of suicide and higher suicide rates. The harmful effect of antisuicide laws on women was particularly prominent in non-Muslim countries and countries with lower HDI.

CONCLUSIONS

Laws penalising suicide were associated with higher national suicide rates and even more so in the female population in the low HDI, non-Muslim countries. The non-supportive patriarchal culture with laws penalising suicide may render women vulnerable to suicidality. Instead of criminalising suicide, alternative approaches such as providing good mental healthcare and adjusting the socioeconomic, legal and cultural factors that contribute to suicide should be considered.

Suicide mortality among older adults in Brazil between 2000 and 2019 - estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

INTRODUCTION

Older adults present a higher risk of suicide, and Brazil is experiencing a fast population aging. To understand the impact of demographic transition, we compared Brazilian suicide mortality rates (MR) among adults (50+ years) with global rates, those from one high-income country, and those from one middle-income country. Looking for regional disparities, the MR was analyzed among older adults (60+ years) by Brazilian states.

METHODS

This was an ecological study based on estimates from the Global Burden of Disease Study, from 2000 to 2019. Age-standardized MR and age-specific MR per 100,000 inhabitants were described, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UI).

RESULTS

During the period, the annual estimates and the declining trend in mortality were higher in the world than in the studied countries. In 2019, global age-standardized MR was 9.39 (95% UI 8.48-10.29), compared to 5.68 (95% UI 5.40-6.19), 6.01 (95% UI 5.10-7.04), and 6.63 (95% UI 6.43-6.95) in Brazil, Mexico, and England, respectively. In Brazil, despite a significant decline in national rates, stability was observed in 15 states. An increase in aging was only found for men, who presented 3-4 times higher MR than women. The states' rates presented large differences: in 2019, the rates among men aged 60-64 years varied from 7.24 (95% UI 5.31; 9.85) to 26.32 (95% UI 20.21; 34.50).

CONCLUSIONS

The smaller decline in suicide mortality among older Brazilian adults, the increasing risk with aging, and the higher mortality among men indicate the need for specific prevention policies. The variation within states suggests differences in the data quality or in socio-cultural and historical aspects, which requires further investigation.

Profile of suicide within the northern part of Ghana: A decade under review

Background

Several reports show that suicide is the second and third leading cause of untimely death in young people below the age of 30. Little, however, is known about the profile and trend of suicide in this country due to lack of systematic studies and a lack of national statistics on suicide. This study seeks to examine the profile and pattern of suicide cases recorded within northern Ghana for the past decade.

Aim

This study aimed to report the prevalence of suicide as an independent cause of death; the choice of suicide method and the alleged reasons for suicide within the northern part of Ghana.

Setting

Retrospective review of coroners’ reports within the northern part of Ghana.

Method

In this descriptive study, 309 completed suicides as archived by the office of the coroner were examined. The coroners’ reports of 309 individuals, whose deaths received a suicide verdict or an open verdict in which the cause of death was likely to be suicide from 2008 to 2017, were examined. Student’s t-test was used to ascertain significant age differences between the genders involved.

Results

Amongst the 309 decedents examined, approximately, 61% were male, with ages ranging from 5 to 81 years. Hanging and poisoning were the most commonly used methods to complete suicide accounting for 124 (40.1%) and 102 (33.0%) deaths, respectively. Regarding the reasons for completed suicide, 78 (25.2%) were because of unknown reasons and 66 (21.4%) were because of social stigma. There was a notable decline in the prevalence of suicide from 2014 to 2017 compared with the years from 2010 to 2013.

Conclusion

Suicide was highest in the 30–39 year age group with hanging and poisoning being the most common method employed. Stigmatisation and psychosocial problems arising from chronic illness and economic hardship were significant triggers of suicide amongst the suicide decedents in the northern part of Ghana.

Association between COVID-19 pandemic and the suicide rates in Nepal

BACKGROUND

Past works have linked the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent public health responses such as isolation, quarantine, and lockdown to increased anxiety, sleep disorders, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation. Only a few studies, mostly carried out in high-income countries, have investigated the association between the pandemic and suicide rate. We seek to investigate the changes in the monthly suicide rates during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal, compared to the pre-pandemic suicide rates.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

This is a retrospective study investigating the changes in suicide rates in Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic period (April 2020 to June 2021), compared to the pre-pandemic period (July 2017 to March 2020), adjusted for seasonality and long-term trend in the suicide rate. We performed analysis for the entire country as well as sub-sample analyses stratified by gender and provinces. A total of 24350 suicides deaths during four years of the study window were analyzed. We found an overall increase in the monthly suicide rate in Nepal with an average increase of 0.28 (CI: 0.12,0.45) suicide per 100,000 during the pandemic months. The increase in suicide rate was significant both among males (increase in rate = 0.26, CI: 0.02,0.50) and females (increase in rate = 0.30, CI: 0.18,0.43). The most striking increments in suicide rates were observed in June, July, and August 2020. The pattern of increased suicide rates faded away early on among males, but the effect was sustained for a longer duration among females. Sudurpaschim and Karnali provinces had the highest increase in suicide rates associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with an increased suicide rate in Nepal. The findings may inform policymakers in designing appropriate public health responses to the pandemic that are considerate of the potential impact on mental health and suicide.

Self-confidence and knowledge of suicide assessment and prevention amongst first-line health professionals in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa

Background: First-line health professionals are uniquely positioned to recognise suicidal behaviours in patients. However, the opportunities are often missed or poorly managed. Self-confidence and knowledge of suicide prevention and assessment by health professionals can lead to prompt recognition and management of at-risk individuals. This study evaluates the first-line health professionals’ self-confidence and knowledge of suicide assessment in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM), South Africa.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in six healthcare facilities across NMBM between January 2020 and March 2020. Five hundred first-line healthcare professionals were recruited to respond to a validated self-administered questionnaire to collect demographic characteristics, self-confidence levels and knowledge of suicide assessment and associated factors.Results: A total of 344 first-line health professionals completed the questionnaire (68.8% response rate); 40% of the respondents work in emergency units and 77.3% reported frequent encounters with patients who attempted suicide. Most participants had not received suicide assessment training during their undergraduate or postgraduate years (59.6% and 81.1%, respectively). They also lacked adequate knowledge and self-confidence in suicide assessment. Younger age, minimal work experience and attendance of two or more hours of suicide prevention training were associated with higher knowledge of suicide assessment.Conclusion: Findings revealed gaps in self-confidence and knowledge of suicide management, attributed to lack of training in suicide management. Health authorities should prioritise upskilling of front-line workers in suicide prevention and assessment, specifically targeting older nurses in the region.

Depression and suicidal behavior in South Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Estimates of depression in suicidal behavior in South Asia would help to formulate suicide prevention strategies in the region that hasn't been assessed yet.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to systematically assess the prevalence of depression in fatal and non-fatal attempts of suicide in eight South Asian countries.

METHODS

We searched Medline, Embase, and PsychINFO by specific search terms to identify articles assessing depression in fatal and non-fatal attempts of suicide in South Asian countries published between 2001 and 2020. Two separate meta-analyses were conducted for fatal and non-fatal attempts. Due to the high heterogeneity of studies (96-98%), random-effects models were used to calculate pooled prevalence rates.

RESULTS

A total of 38 studies was identified from five south Asian countries (India [27], Pakistan [6], Sri Lanka [3], Nepal [1], and Bangladesh [1]). The majority of studies (n = 27) were published after 2010. Twenty-two studies reported non-fatal attempts, and sixteen reported suicide. The prevalence of depression among non-fatal attempts ranged from 14% to 78% where the pooled prevalence rate was 32.7% [95% CI 26-39.3%]. The prevalence of depression among suicides ranged from 8% to 79% where the pooled prevalence estimate was 37.3% [95% CI 26.9-47.6%].

CONCLUSIONS

This review revealed the pooled prevalence of depression among fatal and non-fatal suicidal attempts in South Asian countries, which seems to be lower when comparedto the Western countries. However, a cautious interpretation is warranted due to the heterogeneity of study methods, sample size, and measurement of depression.

Suicidal ideation and behavior in youth in low- and middle-income countries: A brief review of risk factors and implications for prevention

Although global rates of suicide have dropped in the last 30 years, youth in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) continue to be highly represented in suicide statistics yet underrepresented in research. In this review we present the epidemiology of suicide, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among youth in LMICs. We also describe population-level (attitudes toward suicide, socioeconomic, and societal factors) and individual-level clinical and psychosocial risk factors, highlighting specific considerations pertaining to youth in LMICs. These specific considerations in risk factors within this population can inform how multi-level prevention strategies may be targeted to meet their specific needs. Prevention and intervention strategies relying on the stepped-care framework focusing on population-, community-, and individual level targets while considering locally- and culturally relevant practices are key in LMICs. In addition, systemic approaches favoring school-based and family-based interventions are important among youth. Cross-culturally adapted multimodal prevention strategies targeting the heterogeneity that exists in healthcare systems, suicide rates, and risk factors in these countries should be accorded a high priority to reduce the burden of suicide among youth in LMICs.

Organophosphate pesticide exposure as a risk factor for attempted suicide in Cape Town, South Africa: A case-control study

Pesticides are a commonly used agent for suicide in many Low- and Middle-Income countries (LMICs). However, accumulating evidence suggests that exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticide may also increase the risk of suicide. We conducted a hospital-based case-control study to investigate whether prior household, garden or occupational OP exposure were associated with attempted suicide using conditional logistic regression modeling. Participants who attempted suicide with any means and were admitted to two Western Cape Province hospitals in South Africa were compared to a sample of controls matched by age, sex and time of admission with unrelated conditions, between August 2015 and August 2017. The means of attempted suicide was not recorded. OP exposure was determined by dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites detected in hair and by environmental and occupational history. Approximately 85% of participants reported using pesticides in the home or garden and 15% of participants reported current or past occupational exposure while working on a farm. Attempted suicide was not associated with reported home or garden OP use (Odds ratio [OR] = 0.59, 95%CI 0.33-1.04), hair DAP metabolites (OR = 1.00, 95%CI 0.98-1.02) or current or past agricultural work (OR = 1.08, 95%CI 0.62-1.87), but was associated with hazardous drinking and unemployment with no household income. We found no evidence that attempted suicide was associated with environmental or occupational pesticide use in an urban South African population attending an emergency center.

Association of chronic diseases and lifestyle factors with suicidal ideation among adults aged 18-69 years in Eswatini: evidence from a population-based survey

Background

How chronic diseases and lifestyle affect suicidal ideation in the sub-Saharan region remains unclear. We investigated the association of chronic diseases and lifestyle with suicidal ideation in the past year and the potential modifying role of sociodemographic status on this association. The findings can guide suicide prevention interventions.

Methods

We analyzed 3026 respondents from the World Health Organization STEPwise approach to noncommunicable disease risk factor surveillance conducted in Eswatini in 2014. The outcome was past-year suicidal ideation, and the main predictors were chronic diseases and lifestyle. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate predictors, and subgroup analysis was performed to assess effect modification.

Results

The prevalence of past-year suicidal ideation was 9.9%. After adjustment for covariates, including sex, marital status, employment status, and education level, individuals aged 18–30 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22–4.22) were more likely to have had past-year suicidal ideation than those aged 45–69 years. After adjustment for covariates among employed individuals, having high blood pressure (aOR: 3.38, 95% CI: 1.54–7.40), not exercising (aOR: 2.65, 95% CI: 1.09–6.39), drinking alcohol (aOR: 2.40, 95% CI: 1.14–5.05), being aged 18–30 years (aOR: 3.50, 95% CI: 1.01–12.1), and being exposed to threats (aOR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.01–5.53) were significantly associated with past-year suicidal ideation.

Conclusions

Among currently employed individuals, having high blood pressure, not exercising, and drinking alcohol were associated with past-year suicidal ideation. The findings highlight the importance of developing and strengthening systems for early identification of suicidal ideation risk.

Characterizing multidimensional poverty in Migori County, Kenya and its association with depression

INTRODUCTION

Narrow, unidimensional measures of poverty often fail to measure true poverty and inadequately capture its drivers. Multidimensional indices of poverty more accurately capture the diversity of poverty. There is little research regarding the association between multidimensional poverty and depression.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was administered in five sub-locations in Migori County, Kenya. A total of 4,765 heads of household were surveyed. Multidimensional poverty indices were used to determine the association of poverty with depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) depression screening tool.

RESULTS

Across the geographic areas surveyed, the overall prevalence of household poverty (deprivation headcount) was 19.4%, ranging from a low of 13.6% in Central Kamagambo to a high of 24.6% in North Kamagambo. Overall multidimensional poverty index varied from 0.053 in Central Kamagambo to 0.098 in North Kamagambo. Of the 3,939 participants with depression data available, 481 (12.2%) met the criteria for depression based on a PHQ-8 depression score ≥10. Poverty showed a dose-response association with depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Multidimensional poverty indices can be used to accurately capture poverty in rural Kenya and to characterize differences in poverty across areas. There is a clear association between multidimensional poverty and depressive symptoms, including a dose effect with increasing poverty intensity. This supports the importance of multifaceted poverty policies and interventions to improve wellbeing and reduce depression.