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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Reza Alaghehbandan, MD¹, Nicole M. Edwards, BSc¹, Khokan C. Sikdar, MAS¹, Don MacDonald, MSc¹, and Simon Avis, MD². (1) Research and Development Division, Centre for Health Information, 1 Crosbie Place, St. John's, NF A1B 3Y8, Canada, (709) 757-2427, nicolee@nlchi.nl.ca, (2) Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Department of Justice, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Health Sciences Centre, 300 Prince Phillip Drive, St. John's, NF A1B 3V6, Canada

In the 1970s Canadian suicide rates surpassed US rates, and have remained consistently higher. Canadian suicide rates are highest among young men aged 20-29 and Aboriginal populations. This study described the epidemiology of suicide in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador from 1997 to 2001 by linking data collected from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to the Canadian Vital Statistics Database. The overall crude suicide rate among the population aged 10+ was 9.5 per 100,000. The rate among males (15.8; CI: 10.7-20.8) was almost five times that of females (3.3; CI: 1.0-5.5). Age-standardized suicide rates fluctuated from 10.9 per 100,000 in 1997 to 8.0 in 2001. Nearly 20% of all deaths that occurred among those aged 10-19 years were due to suicide. The proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) for suicide deaths decreased with age. The suicide rate was highest among those aged 50-59 years. Rates among unpartnered (single, separated, divorced or widowed) (17.0; CI: 10.7-23.0) individuals was significantly higher than among partnered (5.1; CI: 2.5-7.8) individuals. Males tended to use more violent methods (i.e. hanging, firearms) than females (drug overdose). The rate of suicide was higher in Labrador (28.5 per 100,000), an area with a substantial Aboriginal population, compared to Newfoundland (8.4 per 100,000). Depression was the most common psychiatric co-morbidity among those who committed suicide followed by interpersonal conflict. These results suggest that strategies to reduce this preventable event should particularly target males, those aged 20-59 years, unpartnered individuals, and persons with depression.

Learning Objectives: Following this session, participants will be able to

• Describe patterns of suicide mortality in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Identify groups at increased risk for suicide based on age, sex, and precipitating factors.
• Recognize the need for continued and enhanced suicide prevention programs.

Keywords: Suicide, Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation