Bin Jiang1, Ke Shen2, William C Sullivan3, Yiyang Yang4, Xueming Liu5, Yi Lu6. 1. Virtual Reality Lab of Urban Environments and Human Health, HKUrbanLabs, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Division of Landscape Architecture, Department of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Electronic address: jiangbin@hku.hk. 2. Virtual Reality Lab of Urban Environments and Human Health, HKUrbanLabs, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Division of Landscape Architecture, Department of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. 3. Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA. 4. Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. 5. Virtual Reality Lab of Urban Environments and Human Health, HKUrbanLabs, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. 6. Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Electronic address: yilu24@cityu.edu.hk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Suicide is a global challenge. Although it is clear that socioeconomic and demographic factors influence suicide rates, we know little about the impacts of the built environment on suicide rates. METHODS: We investigated the relationship between characteristics of the built environment and suicide death rates over a 13-year period in 151 rent-only public housing communities in Hong Kong. The regulations of the public housing authority in Hong Kong constituted a natural experiment with minimal self-selection bias. We conducted hierarchical regression analyses and found that characteristics of the built environment were significantly associated with suicide rates after controlling for SES and demographic factors at the community level. RESULTS: Three significant environmental factors were identified distance to the nearest urban center, distance to the nearest Mass Transit Railway station, and gross flat area per person. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate a significant association between features of the built environment and suicide rates. They also suggest possible interventions that might reduce suicide through design, or redesign, of the built environment. Lastly, we propose an environmental theory of suicide based on the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide.
BACKGROUND: Suicide is a global challenge. Although it is clear that socioeconomic and demographic factors influence suicide rates, we know little about the impacts of the built environment on suicide rates. METHODS: We investigated the relationship between characteristics of the built environment and suicide death rates over a 13-year period in 151 rent-only public housing communities in Hong Kong. The regulations of the public housing authority in Hong Kong constituted a natural experiment with minimal self-selection bias. We conducted hierarchical regression analyses and found that characteristics of the built environment were significantly associated with suicide rates after controlling for SES and demographic factors at the community level. RESULTS: Three significant environmental factors were identified distance to the nearest urban center, distance to the nearest Mass Transit Railway station, and gross flat area per person. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate a significant association between features of the built environment and suicide rates. They also suggest possible interventions that might reduce suicide through design, or redesign, of the built environment. Lastly, we propose an environmental theory of suicide based on the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide.
Authors: Peng Zang; Hualong Qiu; Fei Xian; Linchuan Yang; Yanan Qiu; Hongxu Guo Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-07-21 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Bin Jiang; Yuwen Yang; Long Chen; Xueming Liu; Xueying Wu; Bin Chen; Chris Webster; William C Sullivan; Linda Larsen; Jingjing Wang; Yi Lu Journal: Landsc Urban Plan Date: 2022-09-20 Impact factor: 8.119