Demographic and epidemiological decomposition analysis of global changes in suicide rates and numbers over the period 1990–2019. Issue 2 (16th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yip, Paul Siu Fai; Zheng, Yan; Wong, Clifford
• Is Part Of: Injury prevention. Volume 28:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 117
• Page End: 124
• Publication Date: 2021-08-16
• Subjects: public health -- suicide/self-harm -- epidemiology -- policy analysis; Children's accidents -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Accidents -- Prevention -- Periodicals; 617.1
• DOI: 10.1136/injuryprev-2021-044263
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8047

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Suicide presents an ongoing public health challenge internationally. Nearly 800 000 people around the world lose their life to suicide every year, and many more attempt suicide. Methods: A decomposition analysis was performed using global suicide mortality and population data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Results: Despite a significant decrease in age-specific suicide rate between 1990 and 2019 (-4.01; from 13.8% to 9.8% per 100 000), the overall numbers of suicide deaths increased by 19 897 (from 738 799 to 758 696) in the same time period. The reductions in age-specific suicide rates (−6.09; 152%) contributed to the overall reductions in suicide rates; however, this was offset by overtime changes in population age structure (2.08; −52%). The increase in suicide numbers was partly attributable to population growth (300 942; 1512.5%) and population age structure (189 512; 952.4%), which was attenuated by the significant reduction in overall suicide rates (−470 556; 2364.9%). The combined effect of these factors varied across the World Bank income level regions. For example, in the upper-middle-income level region, the effect of the reduction in age-specific suicide rates (−289 731; −1456.1%) exceeded the effect of population age structure (124 577; 626.1%) and population growth (83 855; 421.4%), resulting in its substantial decline in total suicide deaths (−81 298; −408.6%). However, in lower-middle income region, there was a notable increase in suicide death (72 550; 364.6%), which was related to the net gain of the reduction in age-specific suicide rates (-115 577; -580.9%) and negated by the increase in the number of suicide deaths due to population growth (152 093; 764.4%) and population age structure (36 034; 181.1%). Conclusion: More support and resources should be deployed for suicide prevention to the low-income and middle-income regions in order to achieve the reduction goal. Moreover, suicide prevention among older adults is increasingly critical given the world's rapidly ageing populations in all income level regions.