Trends in method-specific suicide in Brazil from 2000 to 2017

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Criminology

Background:

• Understanding suicide method trends is crucial for effective public health policy and prevention.
• Firearm-related policies in Brazil present a potential target for suicide prevention efforts.
• This study focuses on national and state-level trends in suicide methods in Brazil, particularly firearm-related suicides.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe long-term trends in method-specific suicide rates in Brazil.
• To analyze national and state-level patterns of suicide, with an emphasis on firearm-related suicides.
• To inform public health policy and suicide prevention strategies in Brazil.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Brazilian mortality data from the National Mortality Information System (2000-2017) for individuals aged 10 years and older.
• Examined age-standardized suicide rates for various methods (hanging, self-poisoning, firearms, jumping, etc.) at national and state levels.
• Applied Joinpoint regression to analyze changes in trends of firearm-specific suicide rates.

Main Results:

• Overall suicide rates in Brazil increased between 2000 and 2017.
• Rates of suicide by hanging, self-poisoning, and jumping from a high place showed significant increases.
• Firearm-specific suicide rates demonstrated a decrease over the study period, with variations observed by sex and state.

Conclusions:

• The rise in suicide rates in Brazil this millennium is a significant public health concern.
• Restricting firearm access may effectively reduce firearm-specific suicides, especially in high-availability areas.
• Addressing substance misuse and understanding the drivers of rising suicide rates are critical for improving population mental health.