Suicide in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada: a time trend analysis from 1981 to 2018

Abstract

Background The suicide rate in Canada decreased by 24% during the past four decades. However, rates vary between provinces and territories, and not all jurisdictions experienced the same changes. This study examined suicide rates over time in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Methods We used cross-sectional surveillance data from the Canadian Vital Statistics Death Database to examine suicide rates in Newfoundland and Labrador from 1981 to 2018. We calculated annual age-standardized suicide mortality rates and used joinpoint regression to estimate the average annual percent change (AAPC) in suicide rates overall and by sex, age group, and means of suicide. Results From 1981 to 2018, 1759 deaths by suicide were recorded among people in Newfoundland and Labrador. The age-standardized suicide mortality rate increased more than threefold over the study period, from 4.6 to 15.4 deaths per 100,000. The suicide rate was higher among males than females, and accounted for 83.1% of suicide deaths (n = 1462); the male-to-female ratio of suicide deaths was 4.9 to 1. The average annual percent change in suicide rates was higher among females than males (6.3% versus 2.0%). Age-specific suicide rates increased significantly for all age groups, except seniors (aged 65 or older); the largest increase was among youth aged 10 to 24 years old (AAPC 3.5; 95% CI, 1.6 to 5.5). The predominant means of suicide was hanging/strangulation/suffocation, which accounted for 43.8% of all deaths by suicide. Conclusions The suicide rate in Newfoundland and Labrador increased steadily between 1981 and 2018, which was in contrast to the national rate decline. The disparity between the provincial and national suicide rates and the variations by sex and age underscore the need for a public health approach to prevention that accounts for geographic and demographic differences in the epidemiology of suicide.

Transitions between versions of the International Classification of Diseases and chronic disease prevalence estimates from administrative health data: a population-based study

“…These strengths provide an opportunity for longitudinal research covering multiple ICD versions and a unique ability to examine changes within these ICD versions. The inclusion of ICDA-8 in this study aids in filling a knowledge gap; previous studies have focused on the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 only [ 45 – 48 ]. Tracking chronic health conditions across multiple decades can contribute to answering questions related to generational impacts of chronic health conditions [ 49 , 50 ].…”

Hangings in Newfoundland and Labrador: A 40‐year retrospective analysis of medical examiner data

“…From 2011 to 2021, the yearly mean increased to 7. Pollock et al [1] found that hanging/strangulation deaths accounted for 36.4% of all female suicides in Newfoundland and Labrador, surpassed only by poisoning (40.4%) for the period from 1982 to 2018.…”

“…In 2021, researchers at Memorial University in the capital city of St. John’s released a study of suicides in the province examining temporal trends from 1981 to 2018 [1]. The study examined surveillance data from the Canadian Vital Statistics Death Database and produced an age‐standardized suicide mortality rate that rose from 4.6 suicides/100,000 in 1981 to 15.4 suicides/100,000 in 2018.…”

“…Suicide remains one of the most important public health problems in Canada and globally. Although Canada-wide suicide rates have declined significantly in the past 40 years, considerable variation exists among the provinces and territories [1][2][3][4]. One region that has received little research or attention is the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.…”

“…F-6.1), which required all unexpected, unexplained, unnatural, and suspicious deaths to be investigated and certified by a chief medical examiner. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner In 2021, researchers at Memorial University in the capital city of St. John's released a study of suicides in the province examining temporal trends from 1981 to 2018 [1]. The study examined surveillance data from the Canadian Vital Statistics Death Database and produced an age-standardized suicide mortality rate that rose from 4.6 suicides/100,000 in 1981 to 15.4 suicides/100,000 in 2018.…”