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Spatiotemporal Suicide Risk in Germany: A Longitudinal Study 2007-11
Marco Helbich1, Paul L Plener2, Sebastian Hartung3
1Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Utrecht University, 3584, CS Utrecht, Netherlands. m.helbich@uu.nl.
Scientific Reports
|August 11, 2017
Summary
Suicide rates increased in Germany from 2007-2011, with higher risks observed in southern regions. Factors like general practitioner availability influenced suicide risk, highlighting areas for targeted prevention.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Spatial Analysis
Background:
- Suicide rates in Germany have risen since 2007, despite existing prevention efforts.
- Understanding the spatiotemporal patterns and risk factors for suicide is crucial for effective intervention.
- This study investigates longitudinal suicide risk across German districts from 2007 to 2011.
Observation:
- A nationwide increase in suicide relative risk (RR) was observed (RR 1.008).
- District-specific variations in suicide risk were identified, with amplified risk patterns in southern Germany.
- Factors such as the number of general practitioners (positively related), income, population density, and unemployment (non-linearly related) were associated with suicide risk.
Findings:
- The study identified significant spatiotemporal variations in suicide risk across German districts.
- General practitioner availability showed a positive association with suicide risk.
- Income, population density, and unemployment exhibited complex, non-linear relationships with suicide risk, while depression prevalence and mental health service supply did not show significant associations.
Implications:
- Findings are critical for refining and implementing future suicide prevention strategies in Germany.
- Targeted preventive efforts should focus on identified vulnerable areas with excess suicide risk.
- The study underscores the importance of considering socioeconomic and geographic factors in suicide prevention planning.
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