Lifetime suicidal attempts and current suicidal risk in aging survivors of the Jeju April 3 incident

Abstract

The Jeju April 3 incident refer to a series of armed uprisings and counterinsurgency that occurred between 1948 and 1954 on Jeju Island, South Korea. These events resulted not only in an estimated 15,000-30,000 deaths but also in numerous casualties and the destruction of many villages on the island. We investigated the relationship between lifetime suicidal attempts, current suicidal risk, and exposure to the traumatic experiences associated with the Jeju April 3 incident. The present study assessed the lifetime suicidal behaviors of 110 aging survivors of the Jeju April 3 incident and 492 community-dwelling older adults who had not personally experienced this incident. Participants completed a questionnaire gathering demographic information and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) items on suicidal ideation, suicide plans, and suicide attempts. To obtain information regarding depressive symptoms, we administered the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). The prevalence rate for suicidal ideation within the past month in survivors was 42.7%, 95%CI [33.88, 52.07], and that in the comparison group was 15.4%, 95%CI [12.53, 18.91]. The survivor group reported higher rates of lifetime suicide attempts (8.2%, 95%CI [4.36, 14.82]) than the comparison group (2.0%, 95%CI [1.11, 3.70]). The cross-sectional nature of the study design limits the interpretation of results. These findings suggest that the psychological consequences of the Jeju April 3 incident, which occurred almost 70 years ago, may be long lasting. Our data can also contribute to interventions designed to prevent the development of serious psychological sequelae following traumatic events.