Mysore study: A study of suicide notes

Suicide risk detection using artificial intelligence: the promise of creating a benchmark dataset for research on the detection of suicide risk

Suicide is a leading cause of death that demands cross-disciplinary research efforts to develop and deploy suicide risk screening tools. Such tools, partly informed by influential suicide theories, can help identify individuals at the greatest risk of suicide and should be able to predict the transition from suicidal thoughts to suicide attempts. Advances in artificial intelligence have revolutionized the development of suicide screening tools and suicide risk detection systems. Thus, various types of AI systems, including text-based systems, have been proposed to identify individuals at risk of suicide. Although these systems have shown acceptable performance, most of them have not incorporated suicide theories in their design. Furthermore, directly applying suicide theories may be difficult because of the diversity and complexity of these theories. To address these challenges, we propose an approach to develop speech- and language-based suicide risk detection systems. We highlight the promise of establishing a benchmark textual and vocal dataset using a standardized speech and language assessment procedure, and research designs that distinguish between the risk factors for suicide attempt above and beyond those for suicidal ideation alone. The benchmark dataset could be used to develop trustworthy machine learning or deep learning-based suicide risk detection systems, ultimately constructing a foundation for vocal and textual-based suicide risk detection systems.

Understanding for Prevention: Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses of Suicide Notes and Forensic Reports

Suicide risk is associated with vulnerabilities and specific life events. The study's objective was to explore the relevance of data from forensic documentation on suicide deaths to the design of person-centered preventive strategies. Descriptive and thematic analyses were conducted of forensic observations of 286 deaths by suicide, including some with suicide notes. Key findings included the influence of health-and family-related adverse events, emotional states of loss and sadness, and failures of the health system to detect and act on signs of vulnerability, as confirmed by the suicide notes. Forensic documentation provides useful information to improve the targeting of preventive campaigns.

Why Do People Live or Die? A Retrospective Study from a Crisis Intervention Clinic in North India

BACKGROUND

Suicide results from complex interactions of various risk factors-reasons for dying (RFD)-and protective factors-reasons for living (RFL). Suicide is not necessarily a wish to die but may be an appeal for help. We analyzed RFD and RFL in persons who had attempted suicide, through their clinical records at a Crisis Intervention Clinic (CIC).

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed demographic and clinical data, and classified RFD and RFL, among patients with either ideas or attempt of suicide registered at our CIC (N = 83). Using two open-ended questions from the clinical history data, we derived their RFD or RFL; (n = 53) completed these questions regarding RFD-RFL.

RESULTS

In the total sample, males and females were equally represented and educated, but males were significantly older. Most common diagnosis was nonpsychotic mood disorder. Commonest mode of suicide attempt was hanging. Family conflict vs. family responsibility, hope vs. hopelessness, stressful life events, and negative cognitions about the self and the world were important RFD. RFL included feeling responsible, love for family and for self, hope, career success, and religious beliefs.

CONCLUSION

RFD and RFL could both be grouped in similar categories related to family, career, hope, etc.

Why Choose the Railway?

Background: The impact of railway suicide in the United Kingdom is extensive, yet reasons for why people choose this method are not clearly understood and research into the examination of suicide notes in this area is limited. Aims: Our study aimed to utilize the unique access to suicide notes written by those who died by suicide on the railway so as to gain a greater understanding of why people chose this method. Method: Descriptive and thematic analysis was conducted on 75 suicide notes for those who had died by suicide on the UK railway between 2010 and 2016. Results: Demographic findings from the sample were largely consistent with railway UK data trends. Five main themes were identified as being significant: "certain and instant," "impersonal and non-human," "ability to be planned," "a good death," and "bereavement suicide." Limitations: Findings are based on suicide note authors who died by suicide on the railway in the UK, as such generalizability may be limited. Conclusion: Findings suggest that people select the railway for their suicide for the following motives: perception of being instant and certain and viewed as a good death, ability to be planned, belief it causes less of a burden on loved ones (via the perception of the railway as impersonal), and a prior experience of it being fatal (via bereavement suicide). Key implications in relation to prevention strategies and future research are discussed.

Putting the Blame on Others in Suicide Notes From Shanghai and Wuhan, China

Abstract. Background: Suicide note leavers sometimes blame others for their death. The blame could reveal extrinsic suicide risk factors and thus countermeasures may be ascertained. Aims: This study included suicide note leavers in Shanghai and Wuhan ( n = 555) to examine (a) who was inclined to put the blame (b) on whom and (c) for what reason(s). Method: Logistic regressions were used to compare the note leavers who blamed others with those who did not. Cramer's V tests were used to examine the correlations between the note leavers' demographics and the targets of the blame. Results: Note leavers who used poisoning and cutting were more likely to blame others compared with those who used jumping, drowning, and hanging. Non-native note leavers tended to more frequently blame social problems and their workplaces compared with the natives. The common reasons for the blame on nonfamily members, children, and lovers/spouses were being mistakenly blamed for something, being disobedient, and having conflicts/hatred, respectively. Limitations: Some blame could have been made under the influence of psychiatric disorder/substances, and thus potentially deviated from the facts. Conclusion: Emotional/marriage consultations and family-therapy services should be made available to females experiencing love/family crises. Mental health services in the workplace could help reduce suicide risks.

Suicide research in India: An overview of four decades

BACKGROUND

Suicide is a global phenomenon and a major public health concern and 'it is possibly preventable if it is well understood'.

AIM

The article is an attempt to understand 'suicide in India' with the existing literature and the lacuna for the four decades.

METHODS

The information is collected from 270 articles on suicide research in India, published in various electronic data bases and different official sites as surprisingly the nation is with highest suicide mortality rate among all regional countries.

RESULTS

The review shows an increase in the number of articles on suicide in India over the period of time. Though the suicide mortality rate in India is significantly high, the number of intervention studies remains very minimal. India's understanding about 'the concept' remains questionable as the data from different sources for the same time period shows a huge disparity. Sex, age, socio-economic status, substance abuse, mental illness, medical illness, psychological and environmental stressors etc make individuals vulnerable to end their lives.

CONCLUSION

Appropriate official documentation and more qualitative studies would help in understanding the phenomena better. Intervention studies and policy level changes are the need of the hour to save the nation from the dangerous 'iceberg of suicide'.

Last Words: Are There Differences in Psychosocial and Clinical Antecedents Among Suicide Decedents Who Leave E-Notes, Paper Notes, or No Note?

OBJECTIVE

Only a minority of suicide decedents leave a suicide note. Typically, the notes are handwritten on paper; however, electronic suicide notes have been reported with increasing frequency. This emerging phenomenon remains generally under-researched. The aim of this study was to compare the psychosocial and clinical antecedents of suicide decedents who left E-notes with those who left paper notes or no notes.

METHOD

The study was embedded in the Southwestern Ontario Suicide Study (SOSS). The SOSS was a three-year case series of consecutive deaths by suicide that occurred in the region between 2012 and 2014. Data on psychosocial and clinical antecedents were collected with a modified version of the Manchester questionnaire used in the UK.

RESULTS

Of the 476 suicides files reviewed, 45.8% contained a suicide note. A total of 383 separate suicide notes were left: 74.3% were paper notes and 25.7% were E-notes. The results of the multivariate regression analyses indicate that the likelihood of leaving a suicide note was negatively associated with a history of admissions to a mental health unit, while the likelihood of leaving an E-note was negatively associated with age, positively associated with presence of a mental disorder, and negatively associated with history of hospital admissions.

CONCLUSIONS

Future studies with larger samples need to consider the timing of the text messages, and appraise whether there was the intent of seeking help or rescue in the text messages.

A Content Analysis of Online Suicide Notes: Attempted Suicide Versus Attempt Resulting in Suicide

Fifty suicide notes of those who died by suicide and 50 suicide notes of those who survived their suicide attempt were analyzed using Smallest Space Analysis. The core of all suicide notes was discovered to be constructed with the use of four variables: saying goodbye to their audience, feelings of loneliness, method used to attempt suicide, and negative self-image. Furthermore, three different suicide note themes of those who died and three suicide note themes from those who survived were also identified. The analysis revealed that suicide note writers who died by their attempt were more likely to combine a dislike of themselves and a concern for loved ones. The implications of the work in terms of suicide prevention are discussed.

Are Suicide Note Writers Representative of All Suicides? Analysis of the National Violent Death Reporting System

While suicide notes can offer insights into the causes of suicide and clues for prevention, there is disagreement regarding the degree to which note leavers are representative of the general population of suicides. Previous relevant research on the United States is marked by a series of limitations: small local samples, an over focus on demographic constructs, and lack of multivariable analysis. This study uses a large national sample, a wide range of predictor variables, and multivariable statistical techniques to estimate more reliable similarities and differences between note leavers and other suicides. All data are taken from the National Violent Death Reporting System, which covers 17 states. A total of 9,048 note writers were compared to 21,522 other suicides in terms of 39 variables. In both bivariable (32/39 variables) and multivariable analyses (30/39 variables), note leavers differed from other suicides in most demographic variables, stressful life events, psychiatric issues, and methods of suicide. The national evidence suggests that caution be exercised in generalizing patterns found among writers of suicide notes to suicides in general. This is the first analysis of suicide notes using US data on the issue.

Completed suicide among University student in Eskisehir, Turkey

INTRODUCTION

In this study student suicides are classified as a distinct group in Eskisehir-a city located in the western part of our country and famous as a student city. The study aims at describing demographic and suicide specification of cases and compare some important issues between males and females.

METHOD

All the judicially deaths in Eskisehir in a 12 year period between 2004 and 2015 have been evaluated. 75 cases that were deemed as suicide cases as a result of criminal investigation have been included in the study.

RESULTS

It was determined that hanging method was the most frequently used method and the number of male was more. It was determined that the majority of them were the students living away from their families. Definite or possible psychiatric disorder was identified as the most important risk factor. It was observed that there were significant differences in terms of risk factors between male and female students. Males have been found as more prominent in case of definite or possible psychiatric disorders, alcohol and substance abuse, love and romantic tangles; females have been found as more prominent in case of family problems and social pressure, and repeated suicide attempts.

DISCUSSION

Compared to the general population love and romantic problems are more prevalent in this group. It is observed that university students left suicide notes more than the general population. Sharing this study with the university administrations could be helpful in undertaking the necessary precautions.