Background: The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 800,000 individuals die by suicide every year worldwide with suicide being the second highest cause of death among individuals aged 15-29 years globally. In Ireland, approximately 500 people (483-579) are reported to have died by suicide on an annual basis between 2000 and 2022 resulting in a suicide rate of 10.34-13.49 per 100,000 (with an approximate 4:1 ratio of male to female deaths noted (3.65-4.50). Previous work at this research site has outlined demographic and psycho-social factors associated with completed suicide over a 13-year period (2006-2019) (McMorrow et al., 2022).
Aims: To comprehensively investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics of individuals who have died by probable suicide in a Western region of Ireland over an 18-year period. Additionally, given the relatively long time-duration and size of a completed database (January 1st, 2006 – December 31st, 2023, approximate “n” of 600 individuals), we aim to examine if there are changes over time in these demographic and clinical characteristics including (i) rates per gender, (ii) age at completed suicide (iii) violence and type of method employed, (iii) living situation (i.e. rates in homeless, asylum seeker, travelling community), (iv) prior engagement with mental health services. A larger cohort of individuals would enable additional investigations (i.e. adherence rates with pharmacotherapy for individuals with affective or psychotic disorders utilising toxicology reports).
Hypotheses:
(1) Gender differences will have lessened over-time in terms of completed suicide rates (lower male:female ratio over-time), and methods employed (hanging rates increasing in females).
(2) Increasing rates of completed suicide will be evident in some demographic groups (i.e. homeless, asylum seekers)
(3) High levels of non-adherence with psychotropic medication will be demonstrated in participants with psychotic disorders.
(4) Previous engagement with mental health services will have increased over time (relating to increased service availability)