Understanding the contribution of suicide to life expectancy in South Korea

The Impact of Suicide on Life Expectancy

Background: In Hong Kong, there have been significant changes in suicide rates during the period 1996-2015. Aim: We aimed to assess the impact of change in suicide rates on life expectancy in Hong Kong. Method: A decomposition method was used to quantify the impact of suicide on life expectancy in Hong Kong. Results: During 1996-2003, the increase in total suicide rate made negative contributions to the increase in life expectancy in Hong Kong (-0.15 years), with incidence component and age component accounting for -0.17 years and 0.02 years, respectively. However, during 2003-2015, the decrease in the number of suicide deaths contributed to the life expectancy by 0.16 years, with the incidence component still playing a predominant role. Furthermore, the contribution mechanism of suicide varied across suicide methods and gender. Limitations: Apart from suicide, the change in life expectancy could be affected by various factors, which needs to be considered. Moreover, conclusions of the study were made at the population level rather than the individual level. Conclusion: Suicide has a non-negligible impact on life expectancy in Hong Kong. Understanding the contribution pattern of suicide and sustaining effective strategies for suicide intervention would contribute positively to improvements in Hong Kong life expectancy.

Caregiving Experience of Dementia among Korean American Family Caregivers

Dementia is a major public health problem affecting 5.5 million people in USA. This qualitative study explored the caregiving experience of Korean American (KA) families of persons with dementia (PWD). Adult KA caregivers of PWD (n = 18) were recruited for semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis yielded four themes: challenges in finding resources, struggling with mental health issues, traveling the path of acceptance, and finding ways to survive. Due to the language barrier, most KA caregivers reported using Korean Internet for information on dementia and caregiving. Some traveled to South Korea seeking medical assistance for dementia (medical tourism). Importantly, some KA caregivers expressed suicidal thoughts and depression. Unexpectedly, familism prevented help seeking and possible relief from their difficulties. There is an urgent need to improve access to dementia care services and education for the KA community. Building a trusting relationship with healthcare providers is even more important for KA caregivers to address their mental health concerns.