Anxiety and mood (대한불안의학회지)

Korean Academy of Anxiety Disorders (대한불안의학회)
권호 표지

Relationship of Increased Proportion of Suicides by Hanging and Increase in Total Suicide Rates in South Korea

한국에서 목맴을 이용한 자살 비율의 증가와 전체 자살률 증가 사이의 연관성에 대한 연구

  • Ahn, Myung Hee (Department of Psychiatry, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Subin (Department of Psychiatry, Seoul National University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Taeyeop (Department of Psychiatry, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Ahrong (Department of Psychiatry, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine) ;
  • Kyeon, Yeong Gi (Department of Neuropsychiatry, Chuncheon National Hospital) ;
  • Hong, Jin Pyo (Department of Psychiatry, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
  • 안명희 (울산대학교 의과대학 아산병원 정신건강의학교실) ;
  • 박수빈 (서울대학교 의과대학 정신건강의학교실) ;
  • 이태엽 (울산대학교 의과대학 아산병원 정신건강의학교실) ;
  • 이아롱 (울산대학교 의과대학 아산병원 정신건강의학교실) ;
  • 견영기 (국립춘천병원 신경정신과) ;
  • 홍진표 (울산대학교 의과대학 아산병원 정신건강의학교실)
  • Received : 2013.09.16
  • Accepted : 2013.10.16
  • Published : 2013.10.31
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Abstract

Objective : This study was conducted to examine the relationship between the annual changes of suicide methods and suicide rates in South Korea. We compared the suicide methods in South Korea with those in six other OECD countries, Japan, Finland, France, United States, Canada and Australia. Methods : Data of suicide rates and methods since the year 2000 were obtained from the official electronic mortality data published by the seven countries and from the World Health Organization [WHO] mortality database. We compared the correlation between suicide methods and suicidal rates in South Korea using Spearman's correlation test. Results : The proportion of hanging steadily increased, whereas self-poisoning steadily decreased from 2000 to 2011. The increased use of hanging was associated with the increase of suicide rates in South Korea. The preference for jumping as a suicide method in South Korea can be notably compared to that of other countries. Conclusion : Preference use of lethal methods, such as hanging, may play a great role in the increase of suicide rates in South Korea. The limitation of physical and cognitive access to lethal methods can be an effective suicide prevention strategy.

Keywords

References

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