Suicide trend among Brazilian adolescents between 1997 and 2016

Prevalence and factors associated with suicidal ideation among farmers

This study aimed to analyze the prevalence and factors associated with suicidal ideation among farmers. Cross-sectional study carried out between 2019 and 2020 with 450 farmers in Rio Grande do Norte. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was evaluated using the Beck Suicidal Ideation Inventory, and sociodemographic, health, income, work and alcohol abuse variables were analyzed. The Chi-square test was used to compare the proportions of the outcome between the categories of each variable. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to analyze associated factors and estimate prevalence ratios [PR]. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 12.4% [95%CI 9.69-15.84] and, in the bivariate analysis, it was associated with sociodemographic, health, income and work variables. In the final multivariate model, the variables that remained significant and were associated with a higher prevalence of SI were: female gender [PR = 3.28], diagnosis of mental disorder in the family [PR = 2.37], presence of common mental disorder [PR = 2.50], alcohol abuse [PR = 2.22] and employment relationship-salaried or temporary [R = 1.91]. Thus, suicidal ideation among farmers is mainly associated with health aspects, especially mental health, work and the female sex, and signals the need to strengthen public policies for suicide prevention with the targeting of effective strategies for the farmers.

Excess suicides in Brazil: Inequalities according to age groups and regions during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has already claimed more than six million direct deaths. Low-and middle-income countries, such Brazil, were severely hit, not only due to direct effects on mortality, but also for its indirect effects on other causes of deaths.

AIMS

The objective of this study was to estimate the excess suicides in Brazil and evaluate patterns within and between its regions during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

METHOD

The observed suicides are gathered from the mortality information system of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The estimates of expected suicides, according to sex, age group, bimonthly period and region, were reached through quasi-Poisson generalized additive models, with adjustment for overdispersion. The analyses were performed in R software, version 3.6.1 and RStudio, version 1.2.1335.

RESULTS

From March 2020 to December 2020, 10,409 suicides were observed in Brazil, resulting in an overall decrease of 13%, in comparison to the expected rate for the period. There were excess suicides of 26% in men from the Northern region in the 60 years and more age group, as well as in women from the Northern region in the 30 to 59 years age group in two consecutive bimonthly periods. Excess suicides of 40% was also observed in women in the 60 years and more age group from the Northeastern region.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the overall decrease in suicides in Brazil over the period assessed, substantial excess suicides were observed in different age groups and sexes from the Northern and Northeastern regions of the country, which are regions that are historically more prone to health and socioeconomic inequalities.

Is Binge Drinking Associated with Suicidal Behaviors among Brazilian Adolescents?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between suicidal behaviors and binge drinking among Brazilian adolescents.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 2,476 students 14 to 19 years of age from 26 public high schools in the city of Olinda, Brazil. Data collection occurred between March and June 2018 through the self-administered Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Descriptive analysis and Poisson regression (p < 0.05, 95%CI) were performed.

RESULTS

The prevalence of suicidal ideation, planning and attempt in the previous 12 months was 23.7%, 17.4% and 13.5%, respectively. Suicidal ideation was associated with binge drinking one to two days (PR:1.053, 95%CI:1.011-1.096) and ≥ three days in the previous 30 days (PR:1.069, 95%CI:1.016-1.125), sadness/hopelessness in the previous 12 months (PR:1.313, 95%CI:1.267-1.360), a report of family physical aggression in the previous 12 months (PR:1.111, 95%CI:1.068-1.155), the female sex (PR:1.082, 95%CI:1.049-1.115) and a non-nuclear family (PR:1.037, 95%CI:1.004-1.071). Suicidal planning was associated with sadness/hopelessness in the previous 12 months (PR:1.257, 95%CI:1.214-1.302), report of family physical aggression in the previous 12 months (PR:1.110, 95%CI:1.065-1.156) and the female sex (PR:1.072, 95%CI:1.041-1.104). Suicide attempt was associated with binge drinking ≥ three days in the previous 30 days (PR:1.062, 95%CI:1.008-1.119), sadness/hopelessness in the previous 12 months (PR:1.202, 95%CI:1.161-1.244), report of family physical aggression in the previous 12 months (PR:1.105, 95%CI:1.060-1.153) and the female sex (PR:1.064, 95%CI:1.034-1.095). The Catholic (PR:0.938, 95%CI:0.899-0.979; PR:0.925, 95%CI:0.888-0.9865; PR:0.937, 95%CI:0.899-0.977) and Evangelical (PR:0.956, 95%CI:0.922-0.992; PR:0.954, 95%CI:0.919-0.991) religions acted as a possible protective factor against suicidal behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

Suicidal ideation and attempt were associated with binge drinking.

Perfil epidemiológico e tendência temporal da mortalidade por suicício em adolescentes

RESUMO Objetivo Descrever o perfil epidemiológico e analisar a tendência temporal da mortalidade por suicídio entre adolescentes (10-19 anos) do Nordeste brasileiro, no período de 2001 a 2015. Métodos Trata-se de estudo observacional, que teve como cenário a região Nordeste do Brasil. O período de estudo foi de 2001 a 2015. Consideraram-se as mortes por lesão autoprovocada intencionalmente (X60 a X84), intoxicação exógena de intenção indeterminada (Y10 a Y19) e sequela de lesões autoprovocadas intencionalmente (Y87.0), de acordo com a 10ª Revisão da Classificação Internacional de Doenças (CID-10), de adolescentes de 10 a 19 anos. As variáveis analisadas foram: sexo, faixa etária, raça/cor, CID específico, estado de residência e taxa de mortalidade por suicídio/100.000 habitantes. Resultados Foram registrados 3.194 óbitos em decorrência de suicídio na faixa etária estudada, com predomínio do sexo masculino (62,1%; n = 1.984), faixa etária de 15 a 19 anos (84,8%; n = 2.707), raça/cor parda (65,4%; n = 2.090); entre quatro e sete anos de escolaridade (31,7%; n = 1.011) e no CID X70 (47,8%; n = 1.528). A tendência temporal de mortalidade foi crescente de 2001 a 2015 (APC: 2,4%; p < 0,01), com maiores taxas no sexo masculino. Observou-se tendência crescente da taxa de suicídios, no sexo masculino, em todo o período (AAPC: 2,9%; p < 0,01). No sexo feminino, identificou-se tendência decrescente a partir de 2004 (APC: -2,2%; p < 0,01). Conclusão O perfil epidemiológico foi caracterizado pelo sexo masculino, faixa etária de 15-19 anos, cor/raça parda e escolaridade média. A tendência apresentou padrão de crescimento no sexo masculino e declínio no feminino. Recomenda-se que políticas públicas sejam voltadas para a população adolescente.