Death by suicide in Grampian 1991-1999: comparison with a previous study

Abstract

Objectives: To review the changes in suicide and undetermined death rates in Grampian between 1991-1999 and to make comparisons with a previous study on the same population.

Design: All suicide and undetermined deaths in Grampian recorded by the General Register Office for Scotland were included and linked with the psychiatric case records from Grampian Health Board.

Results: The high suicide and undetermined death rates in Grampian are accounted for by the excess of deaths in males. In males there has been a change in the method used to commit suicide with hanging now being the commonest method used. Firearm deaths have reduced dramatically since legislation was introduced in 1997 (RR = 021,95% CI [0.05,0.91). For those with previous psychiatric contact, a greater proportion were drug users than in 1974-1990 (OR = 3.75,95%CI [2.7, 5.2]). A higher percentage of suicides have a history of more than one previous attempt at suicide than in 1974-990. In Grampian there is a lower percentage of inpatient suicide than the rest of Scotland.

Conclusion: There have been changes in suicide trends in Grampian and these are similar to elsewhere in Scotland Strategies to address this are discussed.