Suicide in cultural context: An ecosocial approach

This article introduces a thematic issue of Transcultural Psychiatry on suicide in cultural context. Developmental and social structural factors including exposure to violence, childhood abuse and privation, as well as intractable social problems that create psychic pain and a sense of entrapment have been shown to increase the risk of suicidal behavior. However, all of the major […]

Disconnect to reconnect: Breaking down barriers and enhancing social connections amongst the Indigenous communities & education institutions

Various studies have been conducted in recent years on the social isolation of the general population and marginalized Indigenous communities. Research done by CSCS (2021), indicates that Indigenous  people were just as likely as other populations to be at risk for loneliness, however, lower incomes and mental health disabilities caused greater scores in social isolation. […]

Suicide rate and social environment characteristics in South Korea: The roles of socioeconomic, demographic, urbanicity, general health behaviors, and other environmental factors on suicide rate

Background Suicide is a serious worldwide public health concern, and South Korea has shown the highest suicide rate among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries since 2003. Nevertheless, most previous Korean studies on suicide had limitations in investigating various social environment factors using long-term nationwide data. Thus, this study examined how various social […]

Longitudinal effects of physical and social neighbourhood change on suicide mortality: A full population cohort study among movers and non-movers in the Netherlands

Associations between the residential neighbourhood environment and suicide mortality are well-established; however, most evidence is cross-sectional and not capable of incorporating place-based and residential moving-related neighbourhood changes. We studied how suicide mortality is associated with changes in the physical and social neighbourhood environment for movers and non-movers. Our retrospective analysis was based on longitudinal register data for […]

The social determinants of male suicide (IN: Men’s Issues and Men’s Mental Health: An Introductory Primer, R. Whitley)

Men account for approximately 75% of suicides in the western world, with male suicide rates particularly pronounced in certain groups of men, including: (i) middle-aged men; (ii) men living in rural and remote regions; (iii) White men; (iv) Indigenous men; (v) military veterans; and (vi) men involved in the criminal justice system. The reasons for […]

Does community cultural connectedness reduce the influence of area disadvantage on Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander young peoples’ suicide?

Objective: The study aimed to examine associations of community cultural connectedness with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young peoples’ suicide rates in areas with elevated risk factors. Methods: Age-specific suicide rates (ASSRs) were calculated using suicides recorded by the Queensland Suicide Register (QSR) of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people (aged 15–24 years) in […]

A portrait of the early and differential mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada: Findings from the first wave of a nationally representative cross-sectional survey

Evidence on the population-level mental health impacts of COVID-19 are beginning to amass; however, to date, there are significant gaps in our understandings of whose mental health is most impacted, how the pandemic is contributing to widening mental health inequities, and the coping strategies being used to sustain mental health. The first wave of a […]

A question of justice: Critically researching suicide with Indigenous studies of affect, biosociality, and land-based relations

This paper considers how Indigenous studies can inform the evolution of critical research on suicide. Aligned with critiques of mainstream suicidology, these methodological approaches provide a roadmap for structural analysis of complex systems and logics in which the phenomenon of suicide emerges. Moving beyond mere naming of social determinants of suicide and consistent with calls […]

A bright light at the end of the tunnel: Factors associated with complete mental health after a suicide attempt

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with complete mental health (CMH) among a nationally representative sample of Canadians who had a history of suicide attempts. Methods Data for this study came from the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey–Mental Health. A subsample of 796 respondents who had ever attempted suicide was […]

Strengthening the structural determinants of health post-COVID-19

A virtual Best Brains Exchange (BBE) was held July 29, 2020 as a partnership between CIHR and the Office of the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada (OCPHO) at the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). The purpose of this BBE was to bring together Federal, Provincial, and Territorial policy and decision makers, researchers and […]

Psychological, structural, social and economic determinants of suicide attempt: Risk assessment and decision making strategies

The aim of this research was to conduct a risk assessment and management of psychological, structural, social and economic determinants (PSSED) in a suicide attempt. The sample consisted of 353 individuals who had a recorded history of suicidal attempt; and 20 professional individuals by purposive sampling method within a descriptive cross-sectional design. Worksheets for RAM […]

Determinants of self-reported mental health and utilization of mental health services in Canada

Research evidence suggests that the prevalence of mental health conditions in Canada has increased while a considerable percentage of people with a mental health issue do not seek professional mental health services. Weighted logistic regression models were used to determine whether age, sex, income, and education predict the self-reported mental health status of Canadians and […]

Relative accuracy of social and medical determinants of suicide in electronic health records

Objective This paper compares the accuracy of predicting suicide from Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) or history of illness. Population Studied 5 313 965 Veterans who at least had two primary care visits between 2008 and 2016. Study Design The dependent variable was suicide or intentional self‐injury. The independent variables were 10 495 International Classification of Disease (ICD) […]

Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with suicidal behaviour and the relationship with a nurse-led suicide prevention program

Aims: To analyse the relationship between demographic and clinical characteristics and particular kinds of suicidal behaviour and its relationship with a nurse-led suicide prevention program. (2) Methods: A 5-year cross-sectional study design. Study performed in the region of Osona (Catalonia) during 2013-2017. Suicidal behaviour was classified as suicidal ideation, interrupted self-directed violence, suicide attempt and […]

Associations of suicide rates with socioeconomic status and social isolation: Findings from longitudinal register and census data

Suicide represents a major challenge to public mental health. In order to provide empirical evidence for prevention strategies, we hypothesized current levels of low socioeconomic status (SES) and high social isolation (SI) to be linked to increased suicide rates in N = 390 administrative districts since SES and SI are associated with mental illness. Effects […]

Sociodemographic and gender determinants of late-life suicide in users and non-users of antidepressants

Background The treatment of depression is a main strategy for suicide prevention in older adults. Our aim was to examine factors related to suicide in older adults (75+) with and without antidepressant (AD) therapy. Methods A national population-based register study, including all Swedish residents aged ≥75 years between 2006 and 2014 (N = 1 413 806). A nested case–control design […]

Social and economic determinants of suicide: A panel data analysis of 15 European countries

This study is attempted to examine the economic and social determinants of suicide by employing panel data analysis of 15 European countries over the period 1991-2015. It also analyzes whether the effect of the determinants is different by age group and by gender to avoid unclearness of what kind of population is affected by the […]

Suicide of a farmer amid COVID-19 in India: Perspectives on social determinants of suicidal behavior and prevention strategies

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has impacted not only physical health but also mental health and wellbeing globally. These impacts can be critically higher among marginalized individuals and populations like farmers in India. While most of them live in poor socioeconomic conditions, recent psychosocial challenges due to the COVID-19 lockdown had brought endless suffering in their […]

Suicide of a farmer amid COVID-19 in India: Perpspectives on social determinants of suicidal behavior and prevention strategies.

Preparing for COVID-19’s potentially devastating aftermath: Focusing on simple steps to address social determinants of health

For many countries across the world we are seeing unprecedented economic declines and, in some cases, the largest collapses in business activity ever recorded.2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Unlike the 2008 Global Financial Collapse which took at least 4-5 years before we reached a reasonable steady state for our citizens,7 the current crisis affects nearly […]

Traditional medicine and Indigenous health in Indigenous hands

An estimated 370 million Indigenous people reside in 90 countries and make up 5% of the global population. Three hundred million Indigenous people live in extremely disadvantaged rural locations. Indigenous people have suffered from historic injustices due to colonization and the dispossession of their lands, territories, and resources, thus preventing them from exercising their right […]

Men’s mental health: Social determinants and implications for services

Numerous scholars have stated that there is a silent crisis in men’s mental health. In this article, we aim to provide an overview of core issues in the field of men’s mental health, including a discussion of key social determinants as well as implications for mental health services. Firstly, we review the basic epidemiology of […]

Family, health, and poverty factors impacting suicide attempts in Cambodian women: A qualitative analysis from a randomly selected national sample

Background: Our recent report demonstrates that 5.5% of Cambodian women have previously attempted suicide. Despite these high rates and critical need for intervention, research on suicide attempts in Cambodia is lacking, and life-saving information on suicide prevention is therefore unknown. Aims: This study explores factors impacting Cambodian women suicide attempts. Method: A total of 1,801 […]