Does the environment affect suicide rates in Spain? A spatiotemporal analysis.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Sociology

Background:

• Suicide is a significant public health issue with multifactorial risk.
• Understanding temporal and spatial variations in suicide mortality is crucial for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• Analyze temporal and spatial patterns of suicide mortality in Spain.
• Investigate the relationship between suicide rates and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of suicide deaths across 50 Spanish provinces (2000-2012).
• Statistical methods including Kendall's tau-b, ANOVA, and Bonferroni adjustment were used.
• Correlation analysis between GDP per capita and suicide mortality.

Main Results:

• Over 42,000 suicides occurred between 2000-2012, with an average incidence of 95 per million.
• Highest mortality rates were observed in southern and northwestern regions.
• A decreasing trend in suicide mortality was noted in adults over 64.
• Seasonal patterns showed peaks in summer and minima in autumn.
• Regions with higher GDP per capita exhibited lower suicide mortality, particularly in older age groups.

Conclusions:

• Suicide mortality distribution in Spain is geographically uneven.
• Male suicide rates exceeded female rates.
• A decline in suicide mortality among adults over 64 was observed.
• The identified seasonal cycle and inverse GDP relationship can inform prevention strategies.