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. 2024 May 1;33(2):103-115.
doi: 10.5093/pi2024a8. eCollection 2024 May.

The Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Suicide-related Emergency Calls in a European City: Age and Gender Patterns, and Neighborhood Influences

Miriam Marco  1 , Antonio López-Quílez  2 , Francisco Sánchez-Sáez  3 , Pablo Escobar-Hernández  2 , María Montagud-Andrés  1 , Marisol Lila  1 , Enrique Gracia  1
Affiliations

The Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Suicide-related Emergency Calls in a European City: Age and Gender Patterns, and Neighborhood Influences

Miriam Marco et al. Psychosoc Interv. .

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive spatio-temporal analysis of suicide-related emergency calls in the city of Valencia (Spain) over a six-year period. To this end we first examined age and gender patterns and, second, the influence of neighborhood characteristics on general and gender-specific spatio-temporal patterns of suicide-related emergency calls. Method: Geocoded data on suicide-related emergency calls between 2017 and 2022 (N = 10,030) were collected from the 112 emergency service in Valencia. Data were aggregated at the census block group level, used as a proxy for neighborhoods, and trimesters were considered as the temporal unit. Two set of analyses were performed: (1) demographic (age and gender) and temporal descriptive analyses and (2) general and gender-specific Bayesian spatio-temporal autoregressive models. Results: Descriptive analyses revealed a higher incidence of suicide-related emergency calls among females and an increase in calls among the 18-23 age group from 2020 onwards. The general spatio-temporal model showed higher levels of suicide-related emergency calls in neighborhoods characterized by lower education levels and population density, and higher residential mobility, aging population, and immigrant concentration. Relevant gender differences were also observed. A seasonal effect was noted, with a peak in calls during spring for females and summer for males. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for comprehensive mental health targeted interventions and preventive strategies that account for gender-specific disparities, age-related vulnerabilities, and the specific characteristics of neighborhoods.

Keywords: Bayesian autoregressive modeling; Gender-specific analysis; Spatio-temporal analysis; Suicide-related emergency calls 112 emergency number.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The authors of this article declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Temporal Trends of Suicide-related Emergency Calls for Overall Calls by Trimester.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Temporal Trends of Suicide-related Emergency Calls Based on the Gender of the Individual in Crisis by Trimester.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Yearly Distribution of Suicide-Related Emergency Calls by Age of the Individual in Crisis.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Yearly Distribution of Suicide-related Emergency Calls by Age and Gender of the Individual in Crisis.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Maps of the Relative Risk of Overall Suicide-related Emergency Calls by Trimesters in the First (2017) and the Last (2022) Years in the City of Valencia, Spain.
Figure 6
Figure 6. Maps of the Relative Risk of Suicide-related Emergency Calls for Males in Crisis by Trimesters in the First (2017) and the Last (2022) Years in the City of Valencia, Spain.
Figure 7
Figure 7. Maps of the Relative Risk of Suicide-related Emergency Calls for Females in Crisis by Trimesters in the First (2017) and the Last (2022) Years in the City of Valencia, Spain.
Figure 8
Figure 8. Comparison Between the Maps of the Relative Risk of Suicide-related Calls according to the Gender of the Individual in Crisis (Last Trimester of 2022) in Valencia, Spain.
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