Identifying interventional suicide preventable factors

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19462
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 58030:Hygiene and public health-related: excluding laboratory approach
• Research Institution: Okayama University (2022); University of Miyazaki (2019-2021)
• Principal Investigator: KODA Masahide 岡山大学, 医歯薬学域, 准教授 (80827791)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 自殺予防 / COVID-19 / 精神保健 / 地域格差 / 階層ベイズモデル / 空間統計学 / 時系列分析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we conducted analyses focusing on 1) visualizing regional disparities in suicide, 2) changes in the reasons for suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 3) exploring suicide-related factors at a regional level.
1) By quantifying the highs and lows of suicide rates from 2009 to 2018, we identified regions with high/low suicide rates that could be overlooked if evaluated solely on a prefectural basis. 2) We observed months with higher than estimated numbers across all categories, including family issues, health problems, economic and life issues, work-related issues, gender issues, school issues, and others. In men, increases in suicides were mainly due to work stress and feelings of loneliness, while in women, family, health, and work issues were the leading causes, demonstrating different characteristics between genders. 3) As a future development, it would be desirable to clarify regional suicide factors, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Free Research Field

社会疫学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

1) 地域に応じた自殺対策の推進のための基礎資料となる。市町村はこの研究を通じて、地域の特性に基づいた対策を進めることができ、都道府県は地域格差を把握し、二次医療圏や市町村を超えた連携協力の発展を期待できる。2) COVID-19流行下の自殺者数の増加、男女それぞれの自殺理由の変化について明らかにすることで、ジェンダーに根ざした効果的な自殺予防策や政策を見つけるための一助とすることができる。3) さらにCOVID-19流行前後の自殺の要因の変化を明らかにし、社会参加や孤立対策など介入可能な自殺対策を見出し、全自治体の自殺対策計画立案の一助になるよう取り組みを続けていく予定である。