Suicide Rates For Men Research Articles

Suicide in the USA: A Decadal Study From the 1930s to the 2020s.

This study provides a decadal analysis of national suicide data over 90 years, offering a comprehensive view of long-term trends and current levels in the United States. We analyzed mean decadal suicide numbers, rates, and confidence intervals from the 1930s to the early 2020s across demographic categories including sex, race, and age. Our findings reveal that suicide rates in the 2020s are the highest since the 1930s. The data indicate significant variations across groups; the 2020s show the highest suicide rates for both Whites and Nonwhites, and individuals under 44years of age. Conversely, men's suicide rates were slightly lower than those in the 1930s, whereas rates for women and older adults peaked during the 1930s. The results underscore the need for ongoing surveillance of suicide trends and proactive suicide prevention measures by governmental and other relevant organizations.

Depression in the field of tension of gender roles

The distribution of depression and suicidal ideation by gender reveals agender paradox: women are at least twice as likely to be diagnosed with depressive disorders but have alower suicide rate than men. In contrast, the suicide rate of men is at least three times higher than women, while the prevalence of depressive disorders is only half as high. Although these differences have long been known the reasons for this paradox are still not fully understood. The aim of this narrative review article is to discuss possible explanatory models regarding gender differences in depressive disorders. Aspects related to stress processing and traumatization are considered as well as sociological and biological factors. This article summarizes information that was considered particularly relevant in the interdisciplinary dialogue regarding possible explanatory factors for gender differences in depressive disorders. The summarized studies indicate that women and men differ in certain aspects of stress processing and trauma exposure but men do not have alower risk of disease as aresult. On the contrary, the frequency of depressive disorders in men seems to be underestimated due to an atypical symptom manifestation. The implementation of knowledge about gender-specific vulnerability in the training of physicians and psychotherapists, the systematic assessment of gender beyond binary classifications as well as further diversity domains in research and healthcare as well as gender-sensitive and diversity-sensitive prevention strategies could contribute to the resolution of the gender paradox.

Automated and intelligent system for World Health Organization data forecasting

AbstractTechnological advances and social transformations have enabled the circulation of a large amount of data in the health area. Analyzing this data becomes more critical and more challenging as the volume of data increases. An alternative to performing this analysis is to use data analysis techniques to process input data sets and build consistent databases for input to machine learning algorithms. Thus, it can forecast future scenarios and collaborate with knowledge discovery. In this context, this work aims to develop a parameterizable system with automated decisions capable of collecting and analyzing many indicators provided by the World Health Organization (WHO). After these analysis steps, the system applies machine learning algorithms for predictions of different indicators to process information automatically, finding different knowledge discovery scenarios. Thus, the contribution of this article is an automated and intelligent system for WHO data forecasting. The efficiency of the system's choices and forecasts was proven with experiments in five different areas of health, obtaining assertiveness by up to 99.92%, root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) by up to 0.0286, and Kling‐Gupta Efficiency (KGE) by up to 0.9988, hitting even the most complex cases, as shown in the confusion matrices. Finally, three case studies were carried out to expand the studies and present the potential of the system in different contexts: anemia in children, age‐standardized suicide rates in men, and number of road traffic deaths.

Suicide mortality in Brazil: temporal analysis (2010-2021) and comparison with the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: To analyze suicide cases in Brazil from 2010 to 2021 and the sociodemographic characteristics of this phenomenon, including the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, to assess whether there was a relationship between the increase in suicide cases in Brazil and this illness. Methods: Ecological timeline study, with 140,339 cases analyzed from the Mortality Information System (SIM) databases. Rates and statistical regressions were performed using STATA® software. Results: Higher suicide rates in men, singles, and residents of the South and Midwest regions were observed. The age group of 10–19 years had an increase of 1.7 cases x 100 thousand inhabitants/year. Analysis by region revealed significant variations in rates, suggesting the influence of contextual factors. Although the pandemic affected mental health, it was not possible to establish a direct relationship between COVID-19 and increased suicide rates. Conclusion: These results reinforce the need for public policies and preventive interventions, especially for vulnerable groups such as young people. A multifactorial approach is suggested that considers socioeconomic factors, access to mental health services, and reduced stigma associated with mental illness. In short, this study contributes to understanding the temporal trends and demographic characteristics of suicides in Brazil, highlighting the importance of further longitudinal investigations to better understand this complex phenomenon. Hopefully, this evidence will strengthen mental health policies and promote more effective suicide prevention strategies.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Gender Differences in Depression Based on National Representative Data.

Restrictions on daily life and changes in economic structure due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) likely would have affected men and women differently. However, there is still a lack of research on the difference between men and women in the amount of change in depression during COVID-19 compared to before COVID-19. Therefore, the researchers investigated gender differences in the magnitude of increase in the prevalence of depression with its severity and individual symptoms during COVID-19 compared with pre-pandemic levels. The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2016 and 2018 were used to assess depression levels pre-pandemic and the KNHANES 2020 for pandemic depression levels. Depression was evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). To analyze the differences between men and women in the magnitude of the mental health impact of COVID-19, the researchers analyzed the weighted differences in depression prevalence, severity, and individual symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to before COVID-19 stratified by gender. In men, there were significant increases in weighted prevalence for depression (1.2% percentage point; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.0-2.3) and severe symptoms of depression (2.6-fold; 95% CI, 1.2-5.7). Among the individual symptoms of depression, significant increases during the pandemic compared to before were: little interest or pleasure in doing things, 1.26-fold; feeling tired or having little energy, 2.2-fold; and suicidal thoughts, 1.7-fold. However, there was no significant difference in prevalence, symptoms severity, and any symptom before and during COVID-19 in women. Because the pandemic is likely to increase mental problems of the affected over time due to such problems as financial stress and joblessness or post-infection health issues, the researchers anticipate an increase in the prevalence of some mental illnesses. In particular, since the suicide rate of men is higher than that of women, from a public health perspective, active interventions are needed to prevent an increase in the suicide rate due to COVID-19. It is also necessary to establish national policies to overcome the psychological, social, and economic losses resulting from COVID-19.

Suicide and Suicide Prevention Activities Following the Great East Japan Earthquake 2011: A Literature Review.

Background: Since the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE), numerous studies have been conducted, but no comprehensive review study has been carried out. Thus, this literature review aimed to examine how the GEJE might affect suicide and suicidal behaviors from a long-term perspective. Methods: For the literature review, a search of electronic databases was carried out to find articles written in English and in Japanese that were related to suicide and its risk factors, as well as suicide prevention activities following the GEJE. Thirty-two articles were then selected for the review. Results: There were several findings, as follows: (1) gender differences in suicide rates in the affected area: nationwide, the suicide rates in men showed a delayed increase, whereas suicide rates in women increased temporarily immediately after the GEJE; (2) the suicide rates increased again in the recovery phase; (3) the background of the suicides was linked to both disaster-related experiences, and indirect reasons pertaining to the GEJE; and (4) intensive intervention combined with a high-risk and community-focused approach could prevent suicides following the disaster. Conclusions: Although further accumulation of knowledge about suicide and suicide prevention is essential, these findings can contribute to response, recovery, and preparedness in relation to future disasters.

Sex-specific incidences and risk profiles of suicide mortality in people with alcohol dependence in Taiwan.

Alcohol-related mental health burden and suicidality impose heavy burdens on global public health. This study measured the sex-specific incidence and risk profiles of suicide mortality in individuals with alcohol dependence in a non-western context. In this prospective cohort study, individuals with alcohol dependence who were enrollees in Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research database were followed-up over an almost 15-year period. Their data were linked to the national mortality registration database. Taiwan. In total, 278 345 patients with alcohol dependence were enrolled and followed-up from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2016. We calculated the incidence and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of suicide in the cohort and stratified the suicide methods by sex. Sex-specific risk profiles (based on demographic characteristics and physical and psychiatric comorbidities) were generated through Cox proportional hazards regression. The suicide rates of men and women were 173.5 and 158.9 per 100 000 person-years, respectively (P = 0.097). The SMR of suicide mortality was more than two times higher in women than in men (6.6 versus 15.0). Women and men adopted different suicide methods. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression with a time-varying model revealed that depressive disorder was a common risk factor for suicide in both men and women [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 3.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.77-3.31 versus aHR = 5.46, 95% CI = 4.65-6.40]. For men, receiving a diagnosis of alcohol dependence between the ages of 25 and 44 years, being unemployed and having schizophrenia, drug-induced mental disorder or sleep disorder were risk factors for suicide. In Taiwan, the incidence of suicide in patients with alcohol dependence is substantially higher than that of the general population. The standardized mortality ratio of suicide in women with alcohol dependence is more than twice that of men with alcohol dependence.

Gender Differences in Suicide and Homicide Rates in Mexico City during 2019.

Suicides and homicides are public health problems around the world. The rates of suicide and homicide have increased in the past years. The objectives of this study are to estimate the rates of suicide and homicide in Mexico City, and to determine the rates of suicide and homicide by sex in the different municipalities of Mexico City during 2019. Data analyzed were obtained from files of governmental organizations in Mexico City. From the general victims-in-research-folders, we choose “victims of crime” or “loss of life by suicide” that happened in 2019. Sex and municipality of residence were obtained. The rate of suicide was of 5.65 cases per 100,000 habitants. Stratified by gender and by municipalities, the highest rates observed were 6.8 suicides per 100,000 males and 29.6 suicides per 100,000 females. The sex ratio was 4.2:1 (males: females). Regarding homicides, the rates were 16.68 homicides per 100,000 females and 67.41 homicides per 100,000 males. The Venustiano Carranza Municipality showed the highest homicide rate in men with 131.72 homicides per 100,000 males. The homicide sex ratio was 7.8:1. The findings of the present study highlight that death by suicide is more common in men with 7.8 more times than in women. The municipalities with higher deaths by suicide have lower rates of homicides and the municipalities with higher deaths by suicide showed lower rates of suicide in men.

Demographic Losses due to Women’s Suicide in Lithuania 2007–2020: Social Disparities and Challenges for Mental Health Policy

In many countries of the world, including Lithuania, suicide rates for men are several times higher than for women. Therefore, the phenomenon of men’s suicide is receiving a lot of attention in public, scientific, and political discourses. In contrast, much less attention is paid to tackling women’s suicides and women’s mental health problems. Lithuania has been among the countries with the highest suicide rates for both men and women in the world for several decades, but research on the social and demographic aspects of women’s suicide in Lithuania is lacking. This paper aims to examine the demographic losses that Lithuania suffers from women suicides and assess the socio-demographic differentiation of these losses. The empirical part of the study was based on the calculation of years of life lost methodology. The years of life lost method is acknowledged as an accurate measure for assessing the impact of specific causes of death on premature mortality. Data sources for this study were the World Health Organization, Institute of Hygiene, and Human Mortality Database. The results of our study show that the number of years of lives lost due to women’s suicide decreased statistically significantly from 376 [321; 431] in 2007 to 287 [238; 335] in 2020. In Lithuania, the total number of women suicide was the highest among the 80+ year age group, however, the number of years of life lost due to suicide was the highest among the 30-39 year age group. The change in women’s suicide rates was inconsistent and for women, the decline in demographic loss due to suicide was twice as slow as for men. Nevertheless, the number of years of lives lost due to women’s suicide was about 5 times smaller than that of men in 2020. In Lithuania, high rates of women’s suicide reflect the poor state of women’s mental health, which poses challenges to the country’s mental health policy and sustainable demographic development.

Suicide mortality among the elderly population in Italy: A nationwide cohort study on gender differences in sociodemographic risk factors, method of suicide, and associated comorbidity.

This study aimed at investigating gender differences in the relationship between sociodemographic factors and suicide mortality, as well as in the method used for suicide and the presence of comorbidities in an older population in Italy. We conducted a historical cohort study based on individual record linkage across the 15th Italian Population Census, the Italian Population Register, and the National Register of Causes of Death. Suicides among people aged 75years or older from 2012 to 2017 were analyzed. Crude mortality rates were computed, and cause-specific mortality rate ratios were estimated using negative binomial regression models. Chi-square tests were used to evaluate significant gender differences in suicide methods and comorbidities associated with suicide. The study included 9,686,698 individuals (41% men, 59% women). Compared to living alone, living with children or partners reduced suicide mortality, especially among men. Having high or medium educational levels was associated with lower mortality than low educational levels among men. Foreign citizens had lower mortality among men, but not among women. Living in urban areas was associated with lower suicide rates in men and higher rates in women. Methods of suicide significantly differed by gender: leading methods were hanging, strangulation, and suffocation in men, and falling from height in women. Mental comorbidity was significantly more frequent among women, especially at ages 75-84years. We believe that our findings might help to promote public health strategies taking gender differences in old age into account to improve social support and quality of life of older men and women.

Urban parks as a potential mitigator of suicide rates resulting from global pandemics: Empirical evidence from past experiences in Seoul, Korea

Globally, the increased suicide rate of the general population has become a concern not only because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but also because of its associated socioeconomic insecurity, loss of jobs, and economic shocks. This study employed robust fixed-effects panel models to empirically identify the mitigating effects of infectious diseases, via urban parks, on the suicide rate, and to examine gender differences in this regard, based on previous experiences in Seoul, Korea. We found that the differentiating mitigating effect did not significantly affect suicide rates during the 2015 MERS epidemic. However, during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, wherein the number of confirmed cases was very high and diffused nationwide, urban parks significantly reduced the suicide rates for both men and women. The role of parks as a mitigator was more enhanced in cities with a high number of confirmed cases if it was associated with economic shocks. However, this effect was significant only in the suicide rates of men, not women. During a pandemic, urban parks can help maintain social interaction and sustain physical activities (i.e., walking and exercise) while maintaining physical distance. National and local governments should develop urban parks to actively control the suicide rate influenced by movement restriction measures inevitably occurring during the spread of infectious diseases.

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.

The Potential Impact of Adjunct Digital Tools and Technology to Help Distressed and Suicidal Men: An Integrative Review.

Suicidal men feel the need to be self-reliant and that they cannot find another way out of relationship or socioeconomic issues. Suicide prevention is of crucial importance worldwide. The much higher rate of suicide in men engenders action. The prelude is a subjective experience that can be very isolating and severely distressing. Men may not realize a change in their thinking and behaviors, which makes it more difficult to seek and get help, thereby interrupting a “downward spiral”. Stoicism often prevents men from admitting to their personal struggle. The lack of “quality” connections and “non-tailored” therapies has led to a high number of men “walking out” on traditional clinical approaches. But there are complicated relationships in motivations and formative behaviors of suicide with regards to emotional state, psychiatric disorders, interpersonal life events and suicidal behavior method selection. Middle-aged and older men have alternated as the most at-risk of suicide. There is no one solution that applies to all men, but digital tools may be of assistance (e.g., video conferences, social networks, telephone calls, and emails). Digital interventions require higher levels of effectiveness for distress and suicidality but self-guided approaches may be the most suitable for men especially where linked with an integrated online suicide prevention platform (e.g., quick response with online chats, phone calls, and emails). Furthermore, technology-enabled models of care offer promise to advance appropriate linking to mental health services through better and faster understanding of the specific needs of individuals (e.g., socio-cultural) and the type and level of suicidality experienced. Long-term evidence for suicidality and its evaluation may benefit from progressing human computer-interaction and providing impetus for an eminent integrated digital platform.

Instagram as a Window to Societal Perspective on Mental Health, Gender, and Race: Observational Pilot Study.

BackgroundGender and race are known to impact attitudes toward mental health topics and help-seeking behavior. Men and minorities are more likely to cite stigma as a reason for not seeking help for mental health concerns, which is of particular relevance given the high rate of suicide in men and challenges of historic proportion currently facing minority communities. Instagram provides a platform to discuss mental health, though a lack of male and minority representation may further alienate these populations.ObjectiveWe aimed to investigate whether men and nonwhite individuals are underrepresented in Instagram photos tagged with #mentalhealth (compared to photos tagged with #health) to better understand how gender and race-based representations are manifested on this popular social media platform and discuss the implications.MethodsThree investigators of different genders and racial backgrounds met on nine different days via teleconference to analyze a total of 215 publicly available Instagram photos tagged with #mentalhealth and 215 with #health. These photos were generated using Instagram’s search function, and search results were sorted by most recently published at the time of data collection. For each photo, the three investigators recorded their observations about the gender (male versus female) and race (white versus nonwhite versus racially unclassifiable) of subjects featured in the photo, which they did not discuss with other investigators. Chi-squared analysis was performed on each investigator’s data set to compare the frequency of male versus female and white versus nonwhite subjects identified in each hashtag category. Kappa interrater agreement was calculated for each investigator pair, category (gender or race), and hashtag.ResultsAll three investigators observed significantly more female as compared to male subjects in photos tagged with #mentalhealth (X2=14.4, P<.001 for all investigators) while observing no significant difference between numbers of male and female subjects in photos tagged with #health (X2=1.533, P=.22; X2=1.241, P=.27; X2=0.096, P=.76). All three investigators identified significantly more white than nonwhite subjects in photos tagged with both #health and #mentalhealth (X2 values range from 11.912 to 98.927, P<.001 for all). Kappa interrater agreement revealed almost perfect agreement for gender (kappa=0.908-0.992) with the agreement for race ranging from 0.614 to 0.822, depending on hashtag and rater pair.ConclusionsWomen are featured more frequently than men in Instagram photos tagged with #mentalhealth. The topic of #health, meanwhile, is not gendered this way. Low visibility of mental health among men may both represent and exacerbate existing stigma and barriers to care. White subjects are featured significantly more frequently than nonwhite subjects in photos tagged with both #mentalhealth and #health. Directed interventions using the Instagram platform may be indicated to increase the visibility of underrepresented groups and break the cycle of stigma.

Parenthood is associated with lower suicide risk: a register-based cohort study of 1.5 million Swedes.

ObjectiveTo determine whether parenthood among 25‐ to 44‐year‐olds is associated with a lower suicide rate in men and women in Sweden, and whether this is explained by selection into parenthood.MethodsIn total, 1,582,360 Swedish women and men, born between 1967 and 1985, and childless at their 25th birthday, were followed from 1992 to 2011. All data originated from linkage to national Swedish registers. Cox regression models were used with time‐varying parenthood status to estimate adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (aHR;CI) for suicide.ResultsHaving one, two, three or more children was associated with 64%, 79% and 78% lower suicide rate, respectively, compared with having no children, in models with basic adjustments. When a wide range of indicators of selection into parenthood were taken into account, the suicide rate was 58% lower in parents with one child and 70% lower in parents with two or more children compared with childless individuals (aHR 0.42 [95% CI 0.36‐0.48]; 0.30 [95% CI 0.25‐0.35]; 0.30 [95% CI 0.21‐0.42]). In fathers with one, two, three or more children suicide rate was 54%, 64% and 59% lower, respectively, compared with non‐fathers whereas in mothers was 70%, 83% and 93% lower, respectively, compared with non‐mothers.ConclusionParenthood among 25‐to 44‐year‐olds is associated with a lower suicide risk in both men and women but to a larger extent among women, and particularly in parents with two or more children. Although selection into parenthood is possible, a protective effect of parenthood on suicide is likely in both men and women.

The development and evaluation of an evidence-based suicide prevention strategy in Flanders (Belgium)

Abstract Background Suicide rates in Belgium have been consistently high, with a current prevalence of 15.1 suicides per 100.000 inhabitants, which is 1.5 times higher than the European average. In Flanders (northern part of Belgium) more than 10.000 suicide attempts are being registered every year and studies show that 13 % of the population reports a lifetime history of suicidal thoughts. Since 2006 an extensive Suicide Prevention Strategy has been implemented in Flanders, aiming to decrease the Flemish suicide rate by 20% by 2020 (baseline year 2000). Methods The Suicide Prevention Strategy has been developed by a team of experts, involving multiple stakeholders and the lay public. The 'Flemish Centre of Expertise in Suicide Prevention' (VLESP) was launched by the government to coordinate and monitor the prevention campaigns, tools and interventions included in the strategy, and to study their effectiveness. Results The Suicide Prevention Strategy includes five key strategies namely: 1) mental health promotion, 2) providing helplines and online help, 3) educating health professionals and community facilitators, 4) developing programs targeting high risk groups, 5) developing and implementing targeted suicide prevention guidelines for health professionals and other key gatekeepers. A range of innovative suicide prevention tools and interventions, such as an e-learning course for health professionals, smartphone applications and group therapies for suicidal individuals, have been developed and positively evaluated. In 2017 (in comparison with the year 2000) suicide rates in men decreased with 27% and suicide rates in women with 26%. For suicide attempts, a decrease of 19% was noted. Conclusions Suicide prevention is a public health priority in Flanders. A combination of evidence-based tools and interventions have been developed and assessed in the past years, resulting in a decrease in suicide rates.

Sociodemographic and gender determinants of late-life suicide in users and non-users of antidepressants.

BackgroundThe treatment of depression is a main strategy for suicide prevention in older adults. Our aim was to examine factors related to suicide in older adults (75+) with and without antidepressant (AD) therapy.MethodsA national population-based register study, including all Swedish residents aged ≥75 years between 2006 and 2014 (N = 1 413 806). A nested case–control design was used to investigate sociodemographic factors associated with suicide among users and non-users of ADs. Risk estimates were calculated in adjusted conditional logistic regression models for the entire cohort and by gender.ResultsIn all, 1305 individuals died by suicide (70% men). The suicide rate in men who used ADs was over four times higher than women with such treatment. Being unmarried was a risk factor for suicide in men but not in women. Being born outside of Nordic countries was associated with increased suicide risk; a 3-fold risk increase was observed in non-Nordic women without AD treatment. Lower suicide risk was observed in blue-collar women who used ADs, whereas a higher risk was found in blue-collar men who did not.ConclusionsOur differential findings on factors associated with suicide can offer clues for gender-specific preventive strategies that go beyond the healthcare sphere.

Google Searches and Suicide Rates in Spain, 2004-2013: Correlation Study.

BackgroundDifferent studies have suggested that web search data are useful in forecasting several phenomena from the field of economics to epidemiology or health issues.ObjectiveThis study aimed to (1) evaluate the correlation between suicide rates released by the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE) and internet search trends in Spain reported by Google Trends (GT) for 57 suicide-related terms representing major known risks of suicide and an analysis of these results using a linear regression model and (2) study the differential association between male and female suicide rates published by the INE and internet searches of these 57 terms.MethodsThe study period was from 2004 to 2013. In this study, suicide data were collected from (1) Spain’s INE and (2) local internet search data from GT, both from January 2004 to December 2013. We investigated and validated 57 suicide-related terms already tested in scientific studies before 2015 that would be the best predictors of new suicide cases. We then evaluated the nowcasting effects of a GT search through a cross-correlation analysis and by linear regression of the suicide incidence data with the GT data.ResultsSuicide rates in Spain in the study period were positively associated (r<-0.2) for the general population with the search volume for 7 terms and negatively for 1 from the 57 terms used in previous studies. Suicide rates for men were found to be significantly different than those of women. The search term, “allergy,” demonstrated a lead effect for new suicide cases (r=0.513; P=.001). The next significant correlating terms for those 57 studied were “antidepressant,” “alcohol abstinence,” “relationship breakup” (r=0.295, P=.001; r=0.295, P=.001; and r=0.268, P=.002, respectively). Significantly different results were obtained for men and women. Search terms that correlate with suicide rates of women are consistent with previous studies, showing that the incidence of depression is higher in women than in men, and showing different gender searching patterns.ConclusionsA better understanding of internet search behavior of both men and women in relation to suicide and related topics may help design effective suicide prevention programs based on information provided by search robots and other big data sources.

Criminalization of Suicide and Suicide Rates in the World

Background: In the last half of the 20th century, many countries have already abolished anti-suicide laws; however, more than 20 countries still adopt them. This paper is the first to systematically explore the association between criminalization of suicide and national suicide rates in 174 countries/regions to examine the deterring effects of the anti-suicide laws. Methods: In 2012, 23 countries were identified to carry anti-suicide laws. A Negative Binominal Model was adopted to explore the association between national suicide rates and criminalization of suicide in the world in 2012, having controlled for the Human Development Index (“HDI”), size of Muslim population, and the national unemployment rate. Stratified analyses based on sex, size of the Muslim population and the HDI were performed to explore whether the anti-suicide laws had differential impact on different subgroups. Findings: Strong association was found in females (β estimate=0.51, P<0·0001) connecting criminalization of suicide and higher national suicide rates (β estimate= 0.36, P<0·001). Women in non-Muslim countries and countries with lower HDI were particularly affected by the anti-suicide laws. Suicide rates in men in lower HDI countries with anti-suicide laws were also found to have higher suicide rates compared to the countries without those laws. Nonetheless, negative impact of such laws on suicide rates was not found in Muslim countries and higher HDI countries. Interpretation: Paradoxically, laws penalizing suicide increased national suicide rates. The non-supportive patriarchal culture with the anti-suicide laws may render women vulnerable to suicidality. Instead of criminalizing suicide, a better way of suicide prevention is to emphasize on providing good mental health care and adjusting the socio-economic-cultural conditions that contribute to suicide. Funding Statement: Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan National Health Research Institutes, and the Li Ka Shing Foundation. Declaration of Interests: None for all the authors. Ethics Approval Statement: Missing.

Investigation of Demographic Variables and Types of Suspension in Suicidal Hanging

Introduction: Suicide is considered as an intentional self-killing which happened because of complex factors, its rates are various from country to country. Typically, the suicide rate for men are more than women. Selecting an effective way for suicide could influence by complex elements including social, environmental, psychological and physical factors.