Analysis on the characteristics of self-inflicted injury/suicide based on the Chinese National Injury Surveillance System from 2006 to 2013

Abstract

To understand the characteristics of self-inflicted injury/suicide cases that were seen from the clinic or the emergency rooms, to provide basis for suicide prevention strategies development. Data from the National Injury Surveillance System, from 2006 to 2013 were used to analyze the trend of self-inflicted injury/suicide proportion in injuries as well as the socio-demographic characteristics of the cases with related basic and clinic information related to self-inflicted injury/suicide. The proportion of self-inflicted injury/suicide cases decreased during the past 8 years. 58.6% of the self-inflicted injury/suicide cases were females in 2013 and 42.1% received junior secondary school education. Self-inflicted injury/suicide were mostly taken place at home (76.2% ). Poisoning (56.1% ) and sharp injury were the major ways causing self-inflicted injury or suicide. Interventions on self-inflicted injury/suicide should be strengthened including control programs on pesticide/psychotropic drugs. Prevention on future attempts and suicide should include the full use during the in-hospital time of those suicide attempters.