BACKGROUND: There are few cross-national comparisons of the rates of suicide ideation and attempts across diverse countries. Nine independently conducted epidemiological surveys using similar diagnostic assessment and criteria provided an opportunity to obtain that data. METHODS: Suicide ideation and attempts were assessed on the Diagnostic Interview Schedule in over 40000 subjects drawn from the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, France, West Germany, Lebanon, Taiwan, Korea and New Zealand. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence rates/100 for suicide ideation ranged from 2.09 (Beirut) to 18.51 (Christchurch, New Zealand). Lifetime prevalence rates/100 for suicide attempts ranged from 0.72 (Beirut) to 5.93 (Puerto Rico). Females as compared to males had only marginally higher rates of suicidal ideation in most countries, reaching a two-fold increase in Taiwan. Females as compared to males had more consistently higher rates for suicide attempts, reaching a two- to three-fold increase in most countries. Suicide ideation and attempts in most countries were associated with being currently divorced/separated as compared to currently married. CONCLUSIONS: While the rates of suicide ideation varied widely by country, the rates of suicide attempts were more consistent across most countries. The variations were only partly explained by variation in rates of psychiatric disorders, divorce or separation among countries and are probably due to cultural features that we do not, as yet, understand.
BACKGROUND: There are few cross-national comparisons of the rates of suicide ideation and attempts across diverse countries. Nine independently conducted epidemiological surveys using similar diagnostic assessment and criteria provided an opportunity to obtain that data. METHODS: Suicide ideation and attempts were assessed on the Diagnostic Interview Schedule in over 40000 subjects drawn from the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, France, West Germany, Lebanon, Taiwan, Korea and New Zealand. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence rates/100 for suicide ideation ranged from 2.09 (Beirut) to 18.51 (Christchurch, New Zealand). Lifetime prevalence rates/100 for suicide attempts ranged from 0.72 (Beirut) to 5.93 (Puerto Rico). Females as compared to males had only marginally higher rates of suicidal ideation in most countries, reaching a two-fold increase in Taiwan. Females as compared to males had more consistently higher rates for suicide attempts, reaching a two- to three-fold increase in most countries. Suicide ideation and attempts in most countries were associated with being currently divorced/separated as compared to currently married. CONCLUSIONS: While the rates of suicide ideation varied widely by country, the rates of suicide attempts were more consistent across most countries. The variations were only partly explained by variation in rates of psychiatric disorders, divorce or separation among countries and are probably due to cultural features that we do not, as yet, understand.
Authors: Jay P Paul; Joseph Catania; Lance Pollack; Judith Moskowitz; Jesse Canchola; Thomas Mills; Diane Binson; Ron Stall Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2002-08 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Ronny Bruffaerts; Koen Demyttenaere; Guilherme Borges; Josep Maria Haro; Wai Tat Chiu; Irving Hwang; Elie G Karam; Ronald C Kessler; Nancy Sampson; Jordi Alonso; Laura Helena Andrade; Matthias Angermeyer; Corina Benjet; Evelyn Bromet; Giovanni de Girolamo; Ron de Graaf; Silvia Florescu; Oye Gureje; Itsuko Horiguchi; Chiyi Hu; Viviane Kovess; Daphna Levinson; Jose Posada-Villa; Rajesh Sagar; Kate Scott; Adley Tsang; Svetlozar M Vassilev; David R Williams; Matthew K Nock Journal: Br J Psychiatry Date: 2010-07 Impact factor: 9.319