PAHO finds unemployment, education inequality among main causes of suicide in Americas

Feb 24, 2023 News

Kaieteur News – A new study conducted by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and partners found that between the years 2000 to 2019, the main drivers behind suicide mortality in the Americas has been unemployment, educational inequality, homicide and the use of alcohol.

PAHO said the study which was published on Thursday in ‘The Lancet Regional Health’ – Americas highlights the importance of considering gender-specific social determinants of suicide when developing risk reduction interventions and prevention strategies.

According to PAHO, the study contextual factors associated with country-level suicide mortality in the Americas, 2000-2019, identified that while homicide and the use of alcohol and other substances are associated with an increase in suicide mortality among males, educational inequality was the main factor among females.

For both sexes it reported, unemployment was associated with an increase in suicide mortality.

Dr. Renato Oliveira e Souza, head of Mental Health and Substance Use at PAHO, and one of the authors of the article said that “In order to prevent suicide, we must go beyond limiting access to methods of suicide, strengthening socio-emotional skills, and improving access to mental health care.”

He added “We must also address the contextual factors that affect men and women differently, which require an all-of-society approach.”

According to the study, increasing employment opportunities, improving access to and availability of health services including those for substance use, could potentially reduce suicide mortality rates in the area. Similarly, enhancing social connections in rural and under-populated areas is also a recommended suicide prevention strategy.

Despite efforts to reduce suicide globally, the Americas is the only region in the world where suicide mortality has been increasing since 2000, the PAHO finds. The majority (79%) of suicides in the Americas, they noted occur among men, but suicide among women has also been increasing. In 2019, PAHO reported there were more than 97,000 suicides in the region.

The analysis published in ‘The Lancet’ also highlights that the average suicide mortality rate among males in the region declined as per capita health spending grew, while that of females declined as the number of physicians employed per 10,000 population increased. It noted that for both sexes, the rate declined as moderate population density grew, a cautionary note highlighting the need to support people living in isolated rural areas.

“Cultural expectations around gender largely determine the sex difference in suicide mortality,” Dr. Shannon Lange, a scientist at the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research (CAMH) in Canada and lead author of the paper said.

She stated that “Multi-sectoral measures aimed at the health and well-being of society should be emphasized in prevention efforts.”

Meanwhile, PAHO said it works to improve the mental health of the population of the Americas and reduce suicide mortality. The Organization noted that it provides technical cooperation in suicide prevention to countries through the application of WHO’s Live Life guide, which proposes evidence-based interventions and a comprehensive national response to prevent suicide.

‘The Lancet Regional Health, education, PAHO, suicide, unemployment

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PAHO finds unemployment, education inequality among main causes of suicide in Americas

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