Association between lithium in tap water and suicide mortality rates in Miyazaki Prefecture

BACKGROUND@#Most studies have reported that suicide mortality rates are negatively associated with lithium levels in tap water; however, a few studies showed either no association or a positive association. Thus, the association between suicide mortality and lithium levels in tap water remains controversial. To clarify the association, our study evaluated the association between lithium levels in tap water and suicide mortality rates in Miyazaki Prefecture of Japan, after adjusting for confounding factors.@*METHODS@#We measured lithium levels in tap water across the 26 municipalities of Miyazaki Prefecture in Japan. We examined the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for suicide in each municipality and used the data as the average suicide SMRs over 5 years (2009-2013). Weighted least-squares regression analysis, adjusted for the size of each municipality's population, was used to investigate the association between lithium levels in tap water and suicide SMRs. In addition to a crude model, in an adjusted model, potential confounding factors (proportion of elderly people, proportion of one-person households, annual marriage rate, annual mean income, unemployment rate, the density of medical doctors per 100,000 people, annual total rainfall, and proportion of people with a college education or higher) were added as covariates.@*RESULTS@#We showed that male and female suicide SMRs were not associated with lithium levels in tap water in Miyazaki Prefecture. After adjusting for confounders, male suicide SMRs were significantly and positively associated with the proportion of elderly people in the population and annual total rainfall, and female suicide SMRs were associated with the proportion of elderly people in the population.@*CONCLUSIONS@#No association between lithium levels in tap water and suicide mortality rates was found in Miyazaki Prefecture.

Suicide rate trends in China from 2002 to 2015 / 中国心理卫生杂志

Objective:This study aimed to present the time trend of suicide rate in people aged 5 years and over in China from 2002 to 2015,and to describe the rural and urban distribution,and population characteristics of suicide rate in recent 13 years.Methods:The data of suicide rate were based on the China Health Statistics Yearbook published by the National Health and Family Planning Commission (formerly as the Ministry of Health) of the Peoples Republic of China.Poisson regression models were used to test the time trend of the general suicide rate,and region-,gender-and age-specific suicide rates.Results:Since 2002,the suicide rates in urban population,rural population,male and female have decreased significantly.Urban population had higher decreasing trend than rural population,and female had higher decreasing trend than male.Suicide rates in women of reproductive age (15 -49 years) both in rural and urban areas had significantly decreasing trends,and were lower than male with same ages in recent years.There was no statistical difference of the decreasing trend in rural population aged 85 years and over,or young male population in rural area.The annual average suicide rate from 2012 to 2015 was 6.75/100 000.Rural population,male and the older persons had higher suicide rate.Conclusion:The overall suicide rate decreased over the period of 2001-2015.However,it is still important to carry out suicide prevention program,especially in rural area,and in older persons and young male.

High Altitude Remains Associated with Elevated Suicide Rates after Adjusting for Socioeconomic Status: A Study from South Korea

There have been several studies supporting a possible relationship between high suicide rate and high altitude. However socioeconomic status may confound this association because low socioeconomic status, which is known to be related to a high suicide rate, is also associated with living at high altitude. This study aims to explore whether the relationship between high altitude and high suicide rate remains after adjusting for socioeconomic status in South Korea. We collected demographic data of completed suicides, the mean altitude of the district where each suicide took place, and the mean income of each district. We analyzed the data using regression analysis before and after adjustment for mean income. We found that there is a positive correlation between altitude and suicide rate, even after adjustment for mean income. Thus, altitude appears to be an independent risk factor for suicide.

Suicide an Emerging Public Health Problem: Evidence from Rural Haryana, India.

Analysis of annual mortality data for year 2002-2009 of twenty eight villages in Ballabgarh block of rural Haryana was carried out to calculate suicide rates per 100,000 population. In addition, informal discussions were carried out amongst health providers to understand their perceptions regarding suicides. In a period of 8 years, out of total 4552 deaths, 163 (3.5%) deaths were attributed to suicides giving a suicide rate of 24.4/100,000 population (95% CI 24.1- 24.7). Mean years of productive life lost for males and females were estimated to be 44.4 (SD 1.1) years and 39.9 (SD 1.4) years respectively. Poisoning (41.1%) was the most common mode of suicide followed by hanging (36.8%) and burns (14.7%). Health workers also perceived suicide as major problem in the community and marital confl ict was identifi ed as major cause for suicides. There is need to address the complex issue of suicide by public- health approach at the community level.

Altitude, Immigration and Suicide Rates: A Study from Turkey

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the altitude, immigration and suicide rates association in Turkey. METHODS: Suicide and immigration rates of 81 provinces and their elevation data were obtained. RESULTS: There were not significant correlations between country elevation, immigration and mean suicide rate. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study points out that altitude related hypoxia and suicide association may not be generalized and further research will be needed to clarify the effects of altitude on suicide rates.

Mortalidad por suicidio en adultos mayores, provincia Pinar del Río / Mortality rate due to suicide in the aged people, Pinar del Rio province

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal para caracterizar la mortalidad por suicidio en Adultos Mayores en el quinquenio 2001-2005 en la provincia de Pinar del Río. La muestra coincide con el universo de estudio, constituida por todos los fallecidos de esta causa en la provincia durante el quinquenio. Se operacionalizaron las variables estudiadas y calcularon tasas de mortalidad específica que permitieron establecer los niveles y la estructura de la mortalidad. La información fue procesada mediante la aplicación Microsoft Excel versión 2003. El suicidio mostró un comportamiento al descenso. Las tasas aumentaron con la edad. El método más empleado fue el ahorcamiento. Resultó más frecuente en la primera mitad del día. El mayor riesgo se presentó en zonas rurales para ambos sexos.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed at describing the death rate due to suicide in the aged people during 2001-2005 in Pinar del Rio province. The sample coincides with the Universe under study which was based on all deaths due to this cause during this period of time. The studied variables were analyzed and the specific mortality rates were estimated allowing to establish the levels and the structure of the mortality rate. Data were processed by version 2003Microsoft Excel. Suicide rate showed a decrease. The rates increased with age. Hanging was the most common cause of death, being more frequently early in the morning. The great risk was observed in rural areas in both sexes.