Résumé
Objective This study aims to explore the characteristics of gender and age in six different suicide methods in urban area of China. Methods We collected 548 suicides from Shanghai, Jinhua, Wuhan, Loudi and Duyun, and then analyzed the age and gender characteristics in each suicide method. Results In the age characteristics, the mean age for jumping and hanging was oldest (about 55 years old), followed by drowning and hanging (about 49 years old), oral intake poisoning was much younger (about 49 years old), while carbon monoxide poisoning was youngest (about 37 years old). In the gender differences, male were more than females in suicides by sharp object (52:24), hanging (67:33) and jumping (55:45), while females were more than males in suicides by drowning (58:42). Conclusion The age and gender difference was eminent in different suicide methods. Carbon monoxide poisoning was the youngest age group in suicides and males involved more than females in suicides by mechanical methods.
Résumé
OBJECTIVES: To examine direct causes of attempted suicides, methods adopted to commit suicide, and psychiatric diagnoses among suicide attempters in South Korea. METHODS: A total of 1359 suicide attempters who had visited emergency department of 17 medical centers due to suicide attempt from May 2013 to Nov 2013 were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. RESULTS: Psychiatric symptoms were the most common cause of suicide attempts (62.2%), followed by interpersonal relationships (24.4%). Women attempted suicide more often for interpersonal reasons, whereas men were more likely to do so for financial and jobrelated reasons. Half of participants (55.8%) attempted suicide by drug intoxication, which was more prevalent among females and those who had previous history of psychiatric disease or previous suicide attempt. Men were more likely to use more lethal methods such as pesticide poisoning and gas inhalation than women. Pesticide poisoning was also prevalent among the elderly group and the rural population. Near ninety-five percent (94.5%) of participants received a psychiatric diagnosis : the most frequent diagnosis was depressive disorder. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first nationwide study of cases of attempted suicide. When stratified by age groups, gender, urbanicity, living alone or not, presence of physical illness, previous psychiatric history, and previous suicide attempt, there were significant differences with respect to causes, methods of attempted suicides and psychiatric diagnoses of suicide attempters.