Seasonal changes and decrease of suicides and suicide attempts in France over the last 10 years

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Suicide remains a significant public health concern globally.
• Understanding temporal and geographical trends is crucial for effective prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the trends in suicides and suicide attempts in France from 2009-2018.
• To identify seasonal patterns, geographical variations, and demographic associations.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of national French databases for suicide deaths and attempts (2009-2018).
• Utilized cosinor function to model seasonal variations.
• Examined associations with geography, age, gender, methods, and psychiatric comorbidities.

Main Results:

• A significant decrease in both suicides (14.49%/year) and attempts (11.69%/year) was observed.
• A recurrent spring peak in suicide and attempt rates was identified.
• Higher rates were noted in northern departments; gender and age demographics differed between completed suicides and attempts.

Conclusions:

• Suicide rates in France have decreased, but significant seasonal patterns persist.
• Findings highlight the need for targeted prevention strategies, potentially incorporating chronotherapeutics.
• Geographic and demographic variations necessitate tailored public health interventions.