• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.312-322
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• 2019

Background: Since 2003, Korea has consistently shown the highest suicide rate among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries, and suicide remains the major cause of death. In particular, men are 2-3 times more likely to commit suicide than women, which called the 'gender paradox of suicide.' The areas with frequent suicide have spatially clustered patterns because suicide with a social contagion spreads around the neighborhood. The purpose of this study was twofold. The first was to estimate the hotspot areas of age-standardized male suicide mortality from 2008 to 2015. The second was to analyze the relationship between the hotspot areas and the regional characteristics for study years. Methods: The data was collected through the Korean Statistical Information Service. The study areas were 227 si gun gu administrative districts in Korea. The hotspot area was used as a dependent variable. Socio-demographic variables (number of marriages per 1,000 population, number of divorces per 1,000 population, and urbanization rate), financial variables (financial independence and social security budget), and health behaviors (EuroQol-5 dimension [EQ-5D], and depression experience rate) were used as independents variables. Results: The hotspot areas were commonly located in Gangwon-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Chungceongbuk-do. According to the results of panel logit regression, the number of divorces per 1,000 population, social security budget, and EQ-5D were statistically significant variables. Conclusion: The results of hotspot analysis showed the need for establishing a prevention zone of suicide using hotspot areas. Also, medical resources could be considered to be preferentially placed in the prevention zone of suicide. This study could be used as basic data for health policymakers to establish a suicide-related policy.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.193-200
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• 2023

Background: International evidence shows that mining workers are at greater risk of suicide than other workers; however, it is not known whether this applies to the Australian mining sector. Methods: Using data from the National Coronial Information System, rates of suicide among male mining workers were compared to those of three comparators: construction workers, mining and construction workers combined, and all other workers. Age-standardized suicide rates were calculated for 2001-2019 and across three intervals '2001-2006', '2007-2011', and '2012-2019'. Incidence rate ratios for suicide were calculated to compare incidence rates for mining workers, to those of the three comparative groups. Results: The suicide rate for male mining workers in Australia was estimated to be between 11 and 25 per 100,000 (likely closer to 25 per 100,000) over the period of 2001-2019. There was also evidence that the suicide rate among mining workers is increasing, and the suicide rate among mining workers for the period 2012-2019 was significantly higher than the other worker group. Conclusions: Based on available data, we tentatively deduce that suicide mortality among male mining workers is of concern. More information is needed on both industry and occupation of suicide decedents in order to better assess whether, and the extent to which, mining workers (and other industries and occupations) are at increased risk of suicide.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 2019

Suicide is a major public health issue that causes over 800,000 deaths each year globally. Korea ranks high in suicide rates, in which around 24.3 per 100,000 individuals are reported to have died by intentional self-harm in 2017 according to Statistics Korea. The aim of this study was to examine the current status and trend of suicide ideation and attempt using data from the following five sources: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination (KNHANES, '07-13, '15-17), Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS, '08-09, '13, '17), Korean Wealth Panel Study (KOWEPS, '12-17), Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP, '10-13), and Statistics Korea (1983-2017). Suicide ideation and attempts were also further examined based on equalized household income levels. Data published by Statistics Korea were used to show the updated suicide rate and number of deaths by intentional self-harm. The rate of suicide ideation at the recent year was 4.73% (KNHANES, '17), 6.96% (KCHS, '17), 1.63% (KOWEPS, '17), and 5.39% (KHP, '13). That of suicide attempts as recent year was 0.71% (KNHANES, '17), 0.32% (KCHS, '17), and 0.09% (KOWEPS, '17). Annual percentage change of suicidal ideation was -15.4% (KNHANES, '07-17), -2.5% (KCHS, '08-17), -8.6% (KOWEPS, '12-17), and -10.9% (KHP, '10-13). Annual percentage change of suicide attempts was -4.0% (KNHANES, '07-17), -4.4% (KCHS, '08-17), and -14.9% (KOWEPS, '12-17). Individuals with lower income levels were more likely to experience suicide ideation and attempts. Considering that Korea still shows a high suicide rate despite the continuously decreasing trend of suicide ideation and attempt, continuous observation and appropriate policy implementation regarding suicide related problems are necessary.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.44-51
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare suicide mortality by region in South Korea. Method: Suicide mortality differentials were calculated for several mortality indicators by geographical regions from raw data of the cause of death from KNSO. Results: The results are as follows; the Crude suicide death rate was 22.63 per 100,000. The highest was in Kangwon showing 37.84% whereas, Chungnam, and Jeonbuk followed after. Suicide was 4.4% of all causes of death, but Inchon and Ulsan showed a higher proportion. The male suicide death rate was 31.12 per 100,000 and females 14.09. The ratio of gender suicide mortality was 2.21, per 100,000 and was the highest in Jeju. For age-specific suicide death rates, the rate increased as age advanced, showing 2.33 per 100,000 in 0-19years, 18.68 in 20-39, 30.48 in 40-59, 63.33 in 60 years and over. In Ulsan, Kangwon, and Inchon, age-specific suicide death rates of the 60 and over age group were higher than other regions, Daegu, Busan, and Kangwon showed a higher age-specific suicide mortality of the 40-59 age group, and Kangwon, Jeonnam, and Chungnam had a higher age-specific suicide mortality of the 20-39 age group. Conclusions: Suicide mortality differed by region. These results can be used for a regional health care plan and planning for suicide prevention by regions.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.87-90
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• 2018

Suicide has been a public health issue in many countries, and Korea has ranked highest suicide rate among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries over a decade. To address these issues, we updated the recent trends in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among Korean adults followed by previous data observation. We used data from five sources: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination (KNHANES, '07-12, '13, '15-16), Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS, '08-09, '13), Korean Wealth Panel Study (KOWEPS, '12-16), Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP, '10-13), and cause of death data from Statistics Korea ('07-16). We used weighted frequencies and trend tests. The rate of suicidal ideation as recent year was 5.10% (KNHANES, '15), 8.95% (KCHS, '13), 2.08% (KOWEPS, '16), and 5.39% (KHP, '13). That of suicide attempts as recent year was 0.59% (KNHANES, '16), 0.41% (KCHS, '13), and 0.08% (KOWEPS, '16). Annual percentage change of suicidal ideation was -2.80% (KNHANES, '07-12), 5.78% (KNHANES, '13-15), 0.62% (KCHS, '08-13), -8.50% (KOWEPS, '12-16), and -10.94% (KHP, '10-13). Annual percentage change of suicide attempts was -3.84% (KNHANES, '07-12), 2.26% (KNHANES, '13-16), -2.53% (KCHS, '08-13), and -20.22% (KOWEPS, '12-16). Annual percentage change of death by intentional self-harm was -0.49% (Statistics Korea, '07-16). Individuals who had lower income level were more likely to experience suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. According to these results, the rate of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts showed the decreasing tendency. However, the suicide rate of Korea has remained higher than that of OECD countries. Thus, continuous data observation and effective policies on suicide are needed.

• Journal of Legislation Research
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• no.44
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• pp.689-723
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• 2013

Suicide is Korea's first leading cause of death in their twenties and thirties. at a rate of 31.2 per 100,000 in 2010. The Korea suicide rate is over twice higher than OECD's average rate. Because of this reality the suicide prevention act(full title, the Act on Prevention of Suicide and Creation of Culture that Respects Life) was enacted in 2011. In 2008, the Korean government planned the suicide prevention programs to decrease the incidence of suicide to approximately 20 per 100,000 by the end of 2013. Despite the plan the suicide rate in Korea has increased to over 30 per 100,000 since 2009 and the plan was proved to be failed. Consequently, the government was unable to lower the suicide rate in last decade. It has shown that the reduction of suicide rate is a difficult and complex problem. This study shows that the root cause of suicide is based on social and legal exclusion and proposes that suicide prevention measures should be aimed at social cohesion and legal protection.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.535-543
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• 2019

This study was conducted to find a pathway from the general government debt to GDP ratio(GDR) to the age standardized Suicide Rate(suicide rate). The variables used in this study are GDR, the consumer price index for living necessaries(CPIL), the household debt to GDP ratio(Household Debt), and suicide rate. The data used in this study were standardized data from 2001 to 2015 of Korean Statistical Information Service(KOSIS) and the path analysis was performed using the analysis IBM SPSS 22 and Amos. As a result of the path analysis, the path of GDR-CPIL-Household Debt-Suicide rate, and the direct of effect were in order 0.954, 0.904 and 0.675 were confirmed. The indirect effect of GDR on Household Debt is 0.862, GDR on Sucide Rate is 0.581, CPIL on Suicide Rate is 0.610. Neither of these indirect effect coefficient was significant(p>0.05).

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.59-73
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• 2013

Objectives: The study is aimed at examining the individual reasons and regional/environmental factors of online search on suicide using social big data to predict practical behaviors related to suicide and to develop an online suicide prevention system on the governmental level. Methods: The study was conducted using suicide-related social big data collected from online news sites, blogs, caf$\acute{e}$s, social network services and message boards between January 1 and December 31, 2011 (321,506 buzzes from users assumed as adults and 67,742 buzzes from those assumed as teenagers). Technical analysis and development of the suicide search prediction model were done using SPSS 20.0, and the structural model, nd multi-group analysis was made using AMOS 20.0. Also, HLM 7.0 was applied for the multilevel model analysis of the determinants of search on suicide by teenagers. Results: A summary of the results of multivariate analysis is as follows. First, search on suicide by adults appeared to increase on days when there were higher number of suicide incidents, higher number of search on drinking, higher divorce rate, lower birth rate and higher average humidity. Second, search on suicide by teenagers rose on days when there were higher number of teenage suicide incidents, higher number of search on stress or drinking and less fine dust particles. Third, the comparison of the results of the structural equation model analysis of search on suicide by adults and teenagers showed that teenagers were more likely to proceed from search on stress to search on sports, drinking and suicide, while adults significantly tended to move from search on drinking to search on suicide. Fourth, the result of the multilevel model analysis of determinants of search on suicide by teenagers showed that monthly teenagers suicide rate and average humidity had positive effect on the amount of search on suicide. Conclusions: The study shows that both adults and teenagers are influenced by various reasons to experience stress and search on suicide on the Internet. Therefore, we need to develop diverse school-level programs that can help relieve teenagers of stress and workplace-level programs to get rid of the work-related stress of adults.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.190-196
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• 2008

In these days we can often see examples of suicide. Nowaday suicide becomes a serious social problem in Korean society. The number of suicides increased continuously from 3,157 in 1990 to 10,688 in 2006. The suicide rate per 100,000 person increased progressively from 9.1 in 1991 to 26.1 in 2005 and hit the highest level in 2005. In 2006, The suicide rate decreased after the lapse of 6 years. However, It is still high actual condition with 23.0.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.202-208
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• 2019

Objective: Suicide has recently become an important social problem. Thus, we analyzed prescription drugs that cause suicidal ideation. Methods: Of 156 drugs on the the Minister of Food and Drug Safty (MFDS) EZ-Drug site that had "suicide" listed as a side effect, 78 had "suicide" listed as a warning or contraindication; those 78 drugs were analyzed using data from the 2016 Health Insurance and Review and Assessment Services National Patient Sample (HIRA-NPS). Results: 51 "suicide risk" drugs was identified. Of all patients, 5.2% had received such drugs. The prescription rate was 0.8% of all prescriptions, accounting for 1.6% of all prescription days. From logistic regression analysis, the prescription rate for the drugs was approximately 1.1 times higher for women than for men. With regard to age, the prescription rate for patients 66 years and older was 15.5 times higher than those for patients 25-years and lower. With regard to medical departments, the prescription rates in psychiatry and dermatology departments were 8.1 times higher and 0.6 times lower than those in internal medicine departments, respectively. With regard to region, the prescription rates in Daegu and Jeju were 1.3 times higher and 0.79 times lower than those in Seoul, respectively. Conclusion: Drug-induced suicidal behavior is possible, and therefore efforts are needed to prevent it.