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Improving suicide mortality statistics in Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain) between 2004-2012
Eneko Barbería1, Rosa Gispert2, Belén Gallo1
1Institut de Medicina Legal de Catalunya i Ciències Forenses, Departament de Justícia, Tarragona, España; Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, España.
Revista De Psiquiatria Y Salud Mental
|July 25, 2016
Summary
Forensic data revealed significant under-reporting of suicide deaths in Tarragona, Spain, increasing the official suicide rate by 19%. This analysis improves understanding of suicide demographics and methods.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Science
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Suicide surveillance is crucial for prevention efforts.
- Official mortality statistics often under-report or misclassify suicide deaths.
- Accurate data on suicide deaths is essential for effective public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the extent of under-reporting in suicide mortality statistics in Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
- To compare socio-demographic profiles and suicide rates between initially reported and finally confirmed suicide cases.
- To identify specific methods of suicide that may be under-reported.
Main Methods:
- Utilized death data from the Catalan Mortality Register and Autopsies Files from the Tarragona Area of the Catalan Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (TA-CILMFS) between 2004 and 2012.
- Compared suicide rates and socio-demographic profiles using data from official statistics versus comprehensive forensic records.
- Analyzed supplementary information on suicide methods.
Main Results:
- An average of 16.2% of suicide deaths were under-reported during the study period (2004-2012).
- The crude mortality rate by suicide increased from 6.6 to 7.9 per 100,000 inhabitants after incorporating forensic data.
- Forensic data revealed a significant increase in suicides by poisoning and involving trains.
Conclusions:
- Exhaustive review of suicide deaths using forensic sources significantly improves the accuracy of statistical information.
- Enhanced data provides better insights into the characteristics of individuals who die by suicide.
- This improved data facilitates more targeted suicide prevention strategies.
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