Trends In Suicide Attempts Research Articles

Trends in medically serious suicide attempts before and after COVID-19: a four-year retrospective analysis (2018–2022)

BackgroundSuicide has become a first-order public health concern after the negative impact of COVID-19 on the general population’s mental health. Several studies have analyzed the trends in suicide attempts (SA) before and after the onset of the pandemic, but few studies focus on the impact of the pandemic on medically serious suicide attempts (MSSA).MethodsParticipants were 385 hospitalized individuals ≥ 16 years old who made MSSA identified retrospectively through a review of e-medical records between 2018 and 2022 (“pre-COVID-19” and “COVID” periods). The two groups were compared on sociodemographic and clinical variables using Chi-square or Exact Fisher’s tests for categorical variables and a Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables. To study the variation in MSSA over time, MSSA were aggregated monthly. Joinpoint regression analyses were used to assess time trends.ResultsA sample of 161 MSSA patients, 80 women and 81 men, were selected from 385 admissions after a suicide attempt (SA) in the four years (n = 160 pre-COVID period vs. n = 225 COVID period) (OR = 1.41; CI 95% = 1.0003–1.7223, p < 0.001). Sixty-eight patients with MSSA were admitted during the first period, and 93 during the COVID period (OR = 1.4 ; CI 95% = 1–1.9 ; p < 0.05). MSSA patients were more likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit during the COVID period than during the pre-COVID period (OR = 3.5; CI 95% = 1.7–6.9; p < 0.001).ConclusionsThis study highlights the need for research on suicide risk during and after crisis periods, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides valuable knowledge on the incidence of SA needing hospitalization, MSSA, and highly severe MSSA for four years before and after the pandemic onset.

Impact of the Early COVID-19 Pandemic on Suicide Attempts and Suicide Deaths in South Korea, 2016-2020: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) on suicide attempts and suicide deaths in South Korea, focusing on age and sex differences. We analyzed the monthly number of suicide attempts and suicide deaths during pre-pandemic (January 2016-February 2020) and pandemic (March-December 2020) periods using nationally representative databases. We conducted an interrupted time series analysis and calculated the relative risk (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), categorizing subjects into adolescents (<18), young adults (18-29), middle-aged (30-59), and older adults (≥60). During the pandemic, the number of suicide attempts abruptly declined in adolescents (RR [95% CI] level change: 0.58 [0.45-0.75]) and older adults (RR [95% CI] level change: 0.74 [0.66-0.84]). In older males, there was a significant rebound in the suicide attempt trend (RR [95% CI] slope change: 1.03 [1.01-1.05]). The number of suicide deaths did not change among age/sex strata significantly except for older males. There was a brief decline in suicide deaths in older males, while the trend showed a following increase with marginal significance (RR [95% CI] level change: 0.76 [0.66-0.88], slope change: 1.02 [1.00-1.04]). This study suggests the heterogeneous impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide attempts and suicide deaths across age and sex strata in South Korea. These findings highlight the need for more targeted mental health interventions, given the observed trends in suicide attempts and suicide deaths during the pandemic.

Psychological disorders and suicide attempts in youths during the pre-COVID and post-COVID era in a Taiwan pediatric emergency department.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on pediatric patients, increasing their vulnerability to psychological fragility. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology and clinical spectrum of pediatric psychological fragility and suicide attempts in the emergency department (ED) before and after the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. A total of 340 pediatric patients admitted to the ED for psychological fragility between 2019 and 2022 were retrospectively collated and categorized according to three periods: pre pandemic, pandemic, and post pandemic. Epidemiological and clinical information were analyzed and compared among the three groups. Moreover, patients with suicidal ideation or suicidal attempts and types of substance use disorders in children with suicidal attempts sent to the ED were analyzed. The proportion of psychological fragility increased during the pandemic period (0.4%) and the post-pandemic period (0.8%) compared to that in the pre-pandemic period (0.28%). Suicide ideation was the highest before the pandemic period (0.04%), while suicidal attempts were the highest in the post pandemic period (0.42%). Significantly elevated trends in suicide attempts involving overdose and injury were observed among the three groups (p < 0.05). Intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates increased significantly after the COVID-19 outbreak (p < 0.05), and major depressive disorder was the most common psychological fragility in the ED in all three groups. An increase in the proportion of pediatric psychological fragility in the ED was noted in the post pandemic period than before or during the pandemic. With higher rates of ICU admissions and an increase in suicide attempts among children and adolescents during the pandemic compared to before or after the pandemic, it is of utmost importance to provide mental health support to this vulnerable population in order to prevent suicide attempts in the event of a new global outbreak of infectious diseases.

Analyzing Trends in Suicide Attempts Among the Pediatric Population in the United States: A Study Using CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) Database.

Background Suicide is a significant public health concern among the pediatric population in the United States. This study aims to comprehensively analyze suicide attempts among adolescents using data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Methods The pediatric population of grades 9-12 students (13-17 years old) was included in the study population, and data were collected from multiple cycles of the YRBSS survey. Descriptive statistics and time-trend analyses were conducted to examine attempted suicide rates based on location, gender, race/ethnicity, school grade level, and sexual orientation. Results Significant variations in attempted suicide rates were observed among different demographic groups. In 2021, of the subset with suicide attempt, females reported a higher prevalence of attempted suicide (13.3%, n=211), while males exhibited a lower rate (6.6%, n=104). Of the total studied population in 2021, Palau had the highest attempted suicide rate (25.2%, n=3924), followed by the Northern Mariana Islands (17.6%, n=2740). Over 1991-2021, no significant location-based variations were observed. In 2021, American Indian/Alaska Native adolescents had the highest attempted suicide rate at 16% (n=2491), followed by Black adolescents (14.5%, n=2258). Ninth-grade students reported higher rates in 2021 (11.6%, n=1806). Adolescents reporting both opposite-sex (36.7%, n=5715) and same-sex-only sexual contacts or both (32.9%, n=5123) exhibited notably higher rates in 2021. Conclusion This study highlights alarming attempted suicide rates in the US pediatric population, emphasizing the need for tailored prevention efforts and mental health support. It offers essential guidance for policymakers, researchers, and mental health professionals in developing evidence-based strategies to promote youth well-being and combat the impact of suicide attempts.

Suicide in prisons: describing trends and staff knowledge and preparedness to address suicide

PurposeSuicide prevention and intervention in prisons is a challenge. Prisons were not designed to be clinical facilities, yet with the growing numbers of people who face mental health challenges in prisons, staff require knowledge and skills to adequately address mental health crises, especially suicide. This study aims to: describe trends in suicide attempts and completions within one state’s prison system and measure staff knowledge and preparedness to address suicide.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses a nonexperimental research design and two data sources. Administrative data from 2000 to 2017 on serious suicide attempts and completions were analyzed, and all correctional staff employed in the state’s Department of Corrections were surveyed at one point in time. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted.FindingsThe number of serious suicide attempts trended up but completed suicides decreased. Correctional staff demonstrated high suicide knowledge of risk factors and warning signs of suicide. Staff who viewed a media-based suicide training displayed significantly more knowledge of suicide and perceived greater preparedness compared to staff who did not or did not recall viewing the training.Originality/valueCorrections staff play a key role in preventing suicides in prison. Innovative intervention is needed to increase suicide awareness, improve communication and enhance prevention skills.

Temporal trends in suicide attempts among adolescents aged 12-15years from 12 low- and middle-income countries.

Suicide is a major public health problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, current data on temporal trends in suicide attempts are limited. Therefore, we explored the temporal trends in suicide attempts among adolescents aged 12-15years from 12 LMICs. The data for this study were obtained from the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) 2009-2017, wherein the interval between two surveys in most of the participating countries was approximately 6years. The prevalences of suicide attempts were reported as weighted prevalences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Pooled overall estimates were calculated using meta-analysis with a random-effects model. Linear regression was used to assess the associations of a country's GNI/capita with the prevalence and temporal variations of suicide attempts. The pooled prevalence of suicide attempts in the LMICs decreased significantly from 17.56% in the first survey to 13.77% in the second survey (difference = 3.65%, 95% CI = 0.35-6.95%, P = 0.03). However, significant decreasing trends were only observed in two countries (Benin and Samoa), the prevalence in the remaining countries remained relatively stable. The pooled prevalence of suicide attempts decreased significantly in boys and in the 12- to 13year age group (difference = 3.77% and 4.44%, Both P < 0.05). In addition, the correlations of gross national income per capita with the prevalences of suicide attempts was negative but not significant (P > 0.05). Our findings reveal a decreasing trend in the prevalence of suicide attempts among 12-15year-old adolescents in 12 LMICs. However, the trend varied in each country. This suggests the need for tailored suicide prevention strategies in each country to reduce suicide attempts.

Trends in suicide attempts and suicide deaths before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Taipei City, Taiwan: an interrupted time-series analysis.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented global health crisis that may cause mental health problems and heighten suicide risk. We investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trends in suicide attempts and suicide deaths in New Taipei City, Taiwan. The current study used the official daily data on suicide attempts and deaths in New Taipei City, Taiwan (4 million inhabitants) between 2015 and 2020 from the Taiwan National Suicide Prevention Reporting System. Interrupted time-series (ITS) analyses with parameters corrected by the estimated autocorrelations were applied on weekly aggregated data to examine whether the suicide trends during the early COVID-19 pandemic (late January to July 2020) deviated from previous trends (January 2015 to late January 2020). The impact due to the suicide prevention policy change was also examined (since August 2020). ITS analyses revealed no significant increases in both mean and trend on weekly suicide deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic and after the policy change. In contrast, there was a significant increasing trend in weekly suicide attempts since the COVID-19 outbreak at the rate of 1.54 attempts per week (95% confidence interval 0.49-2.60; p = 0.004). Sex difference analysis revealed that, however, this increasing trend was observed only in females not in males. The COVID-19 pandemic has different impacts on suicides attempts and deaths during the early pandemic in New Taipei City, Taiwan. The COVID-19 outbreak drastically increased the trend of suicide attempts. In contrast, the number of suicide deaths had remained constant in the investigated periods.

Temporal Trends in Suicide Attempts Among Children in the Decade Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Paris, France

This cross-sectional study uses surveillance data to assess temporal trends in suicide attempts among children admitted to a pediatric emergency department in Paris, France, in the decade before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trends in Suicide Attempts and Suicides Over Fifteen Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Data From a Primary Care Surveillance Network in France

Trends in Suicide Attempts and Suicides Over Fifteen Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Data From a Primary Care Surveillance Network in France

Suicidal Ideation and Behaviors Among High School Students - Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among high school-aged youths 14–18 years after unintentional injuries. This report summarizes data regarding suicidal ideation (i.e., seriously considered suicide) and behaviors (i.e., made a suicide plan, attempted suicide, and made a suicide attempt requiring medical treatment) from CDC’s 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Results are reported overall and by sex, grade, race/ethnicity, sexual identity, and sex of sexual contacts, overall and within sex groups. Trends in suicide attempts during 2009–2019 are also reported by sex, race/ethnicity, and grade. During 2009–2019, prevalence of suicide attempts increased overall and among female, non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and 12th-grade students. Data from 2019 reflect substantial differences by demographics regarding suicidal ideation and behaviors. For example, during 2019, a total of 18.8% of students reported having seriously considered suicide, with prevalence estimates highest among females (24.1%); white non-Hispanic students (19.1%); students who reported having sex with persons of the same sex or with both sexes (54.2%); and students who identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (46.8%). Among all students, 8.9% reported having attempted suicide, with prevalence estimates highest among females (11.0%); black non-Hispanic students (11.8%); students who reported having sex with persons of the same sex or with both sexes (30.3%); and students who identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (23.4%). Comprehensive suicide prevention can address these differences and reduce prevalence of suicidal ideation and behaviors by implementing programs, practices, and policies that prevent suicide (e.g., parenting programs), supporting persons currently at risk (e.g., psychotherapy), preventing reattempts (e.g., emergency department follow-up), and attending to persons who have lost a friend or loved one to suicide.

Rural-urban differences in suicide attempts and mortality among young people in northern Sweden, 1998-2017: A register-based study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess trends in suicide attempts and mortality between 1998 and 2017 by residential area and gender among northern Swedish youths. Methods: Events of suicide attempts and deaths for each municipality in the four counties of the northern Swedish region, stratified by gender, were retrieved for each year from 1998 to 2017. All cases identified within the registers with the diagnostic codes X60–X84 or Y10–Y34 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision) for individuals aged 15–24 years were included. Place of residence at municipal level was categorized into three groups: rural – municipalities with a population of <10,000 inhabitants; semi-rural – those between 10,000 and 50,000; and urban – those with >50,000 inhabitants. Results: The rates of attempted suicides in the northern region were higher in both men and women than in Sweden, while the rates of suicide deaths were slightly higher in young men but similar in young women compared to the national averages. Overall, the risk of suicide attempts was higher in semi-rural municipalities compared to urban ones, particularly among women. A significantly higher risk of mortality was also observed for men and women in semi-rural municipalities, but only in the period 2010–2013. Conclusions: The high rates of attempted and completed suicides among youth in northern Sweden and the higher risks in rural and semi-rural municipalities need close attention. The implementation of suicide prevention programs, especially in rural and semi-rural municipalities, should be intensified.

5.4 VARIATION IN RATES OF INTENTIONAL INGESTION OF SUBSTANCES FOR SUSPECTED SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE BASED ON AGE AMONG US ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS

Approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents in the United States have a diagnosable mental illness. In 2017, suicide rates for adolescents (ages 15–19 years) increased to the highest point since 2000. Drug overdoses have been rising since 1999, and overdose deaths among those ages 15–24 years of age reached the highest rate in 2017 since 2011. This study seeks to examine differences in trends in suicide attempts and substance abuse via intentional ingestions in US adolescents and adults from 2007 to 2017.

National Trends in Suicide Attempts Among Adults in the United States

A recent increase in suicide in the United States has raised public and clinical interest in determining whether a coincident national increase in suicide attempts has occurred and in characterizing trends in suicide attempts among sociodemographic and clinical groups. To describe trends in recent suicide attempts in the United States. Data came from the 2004-2005 wave 2 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) and the 2012-2013 NESARC-III. These nationally representative surveys asked identical questions to 69 341 adults, 21 years and older, concerning the occurrence and timing of suicide attempts. Risk differences adjusted for age, sex, and race/ethnicity (ARDs) assessed trends from the 2004-2005 to 2012-2013 surveys in suicide attempts across sociodemographic and psychiatric disorder strata. Additive interactions tests compared the magnitude of trends in prevalence of suicide attempts across levels of sociodemographic and psychiatric disorder groups. The analyses were performed from February 8, 2017, through May 31, 2017. Self-reported attempted suicide in the 3 years before the interview. With use of data from the 69 341 participants (42.8% men and 57.2% women; mean [SD] age, 48.1 [17.2] years), the weighted percentage of US adults making a recent suicide attempt increased from 0.62% in 2004-2005 (221 of 34 629) to 0.79% in 2012-2013 (305 of 34 712; ARD, 0.17%; 95% CI, 0.01%-0.33%; P = .04). In both surveys, most adults with recent suicide attempts were female (2004-2005, 60.17%; 2012-2013, 60.94%) and younger than 50 years (2004-2005, 84.75%; 2012-2013, 80.38%). The ARD for suicide attempts was significantly larger among adults aged 21 to 34 years (0.48%; 95% CI, 0.09% to 0.87%) than among adults 65 years and older (0.06%; 95% CI, -0.02% to 0.14%; interaction P = .04). The ARD for suicide attempts was also significantly larger among adults with no more than a high school education (0.49%; 95% CI, 0.18% to 0.80%) than among college graduates (0.03%; 95% CI, -0.17% to 0.23%; interaction P = .003); the ARD was also significantly larger among adults with antisocial personality disorder (2.16% [95% CI, 0.61% to 3.71%] vs 0.07% [95% CI, -0.09% to 0.23%]; interaction P = .01), a history of violent behavior (1.04% [95% CI, 0.35% to 1.73%] vs 0.00% [95% CI, -0.12% to 0.12%]; interaction P = .003), or a history of anxiety (1.43% [95% CI, 0.47% to 2.39%] vs 0.18% [95% CI, 0.04% to 0.32%]; interaction P = .01) or depressive (0.99% [95% CI, -0.09% to 2.07%] vs -0.08% [95% CI, -0.20% to 0.04%]; interaction P = .05) disorders than among adults without these conditions. A recent overall increase in suicide attempts among adults in the United States has disproportionately affected younger adults with less formal education and those with antisocial personality disorder, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and a history of violence.

Trends in suicide attempts at an emergency department.

Objective:To characterize the profile of suicide attempts treated at an emergency department in the municipality of Arapiraca, state of Alagoas, Brazil, from 2009 to 2012.Methods:We analyzed all emergency department records containing a diagnosis of suicide attempt. Data were evaluated using Student’s t test and Pearson’s chi-square test. Significance was accepted at p<0.05.Results:We identified 2,142 cases. Suicide attempts were more frequent among women and young adults, but deaths were more frequent among men. Suicide attempts were most frequent among patients aged 10 to 39 years (81.1%). Drug intoxication (65.0%) and non-drug poisoning (16.2%) were significantly more prevalent than other methods of suicide. The month of April (10.6%) accounted for the greatest number of cases, and July had the smallest number (5.5%). Suicide attempts were most prevalent in spring (28.3%), on Sundays (18.4%) and Saturdays (16.8%), and from 12:00 p.m. to 5:59 p.m.Conclusion:Suicide prevention measures should focus on young women. Further research into the care provided to suicide attempters and better monitoring of the sale and use of medicines and poisons could be useful.

Increasing self-reported suicide attempts by adolescents in Greece between 1984 and 2007

This study examines trends in self-reported suicide attempts by Greek adolescents. Data were obtained from five nationwide school probability surveys, each of approximately 8,000-10,000 adolescents aged 14-18 years, carried out from 1984 to 2007. Students answered an anonymous questionnaire in their classrooms supervised by research assistants. Logistic regression analysis used as dependent variable any self-reported suicide attempts and as independent variables basic sociodemographic information and the year of the survey. Self-reported suicide attempts doubled in prevalence from 7.0% in 1984 to 13.4% in 2007. Female gender (odds ratio OR 2.49, 95% confidence interval CI 2.30-2.71), living in a single parent family (OR 1.91, CI 1.73-2.11), lower paternal education (OR 1.20, CI 1.10-1.31) and living in a major city (OR 1.17, CI 1.08-1.27 for Greater Athens and OR 1.13, CI 1.00-1.28 for Thessaloniki) were significantly associated with suicide attempts. A larger increase among males, from 2.4 to 8.4%, compared to females (11.5 to 17.9%) contributed to a decrease in gender differences. Changes in Greek society during the last 30 years, including loosening of family ties, increased drug use and stress because of the demands of school work, are hypothesised to have had an impact on the increasing trend in suicide attempts among adolescents.

Table of Contents

AbstractOlanzapine, Quetiapine and Risperidone Effects Similar for Early PsychosisOlanzapine Shown Effective for Patients with Heroin Addiction and Comorbid SSDConcurrent Quetiapine Therapy for Patients Receiving Methadone MaintenanceMPH‐IR Improves ADHD Symptoms with no Apparent Effect on tic SeverityFirst Trimester SSRI use and Risk of Birth DefectAntipsychotic Manufacturers Race for FDA Approval for Young PatientsTime Trends in Suicide Attempts not Specific to MedicationPsychological Burden of Pandemic DiseaseCaution Urged on Dual‐Acting AntidepressantsFirst‐Time Approval for Rotigotine Transdermal Patch System