Preliminary Spatiotemporal Analysis of the Association Between Socio-Environmental Factors and Suicide

This study examined the association of climate, socioeconomic, & demographic factors with suicide in Queensland, Australia using a spatiotemporal approach. Seasonal data on suicide, demographic variables, & socioeconomic indexes for areas in each Local Government Area between 1999-2003 were acquired. A multvariable generalized estimating equation model was used to examine the impact of socio-environmental factors on suicide. Preliminary data analyses show that far north Queensland had the highest suicide incidence while the south-western areas had the lowest incidence in all seasons. Maximum temperature, unemployment rate, the proportion of Indigenous population, & the proportion of population with low individual income were statistically significantly & positively associated with suicide. (70 refs.)