TY - JOUR
T1 - Spatial–temporal analysis of suicide clusters for suicide prevention in Hong Kong
T2 - a territory-wide study using 2014–2018 Hong Kong Coroner's Court reports
AU - Yeung, Cheuk Yui
AU - Men, Vera Yu
AU - Guo, Yingqi
AU - Yip, Paul Siu Fai
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by a Hong Kong Research Grants Council General Research Fund (GRF) ( 37000320 ) and a seed funding from the University of Hong Kong ( 104006710 ). We would like to thank Census and Statistics Department and Coroner’s Court in Hong Kong for support in accessing the data.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors
PY - 2023/10
Y1 - 2023/10
N2 - Background: This study aimed to (i) identify high-risk suicide-methods clusters, based on location of residence and suicide incidence; and (ii) compare the characteristics of cases and spatial units inside and outside clusters. Methods: Suicide data of 4672 cases was obtained from the Coroner's Court reports in Hong Kong (2014–2018). Monthly aggregated suicide numbers based on location of residence, and suicide incidence, were obtained in small tertiary planning units (STPUs). Community-level characteristics and population of STPUs were retrieved from 2016 Census. Retrospective space-time analyses were performed to identify locations with elevated suicide rates over specific time periods, i.e., spatial–temporal clusters. Clusters were evaluated for overall suicide (any method), as well as jumping, hanging, and charcoal burning methods, in location of residence and suicide incidence. Bi-variate analysis was performed to compare the characteristics of cases, and spatial units, inside and outside the clusters. Findings: Suicide clusters involving jumping and charcoal burning were identified, but no hanging clusters were found. The within-cluster distribution of types of housing was different from that of outside. For most of the overall suicide and suicide by jumping clusters, spatial units within the clusters were more socially disadvantaged compared to those outside.Interpretation: Clusters varied by suicide methods, location of residence and location of incidence. The findings highlighted the need for consistent and concerted support from different stakeholders within suicide clusters, to ensure appropriate design, implementation and sustainability of effective suicide prevention programs.
AB - Background: This study aimed to (i) identify high-risk suicide-methods clusters, based on location of residence and suicide incidence; and (ii) compare the characteristics of cases and spatial units inside and outside clusters. Methods: Suicide data of 4672 cases was obtained from the Coroner's Court reports in Hong Kong (2014–2018). Monthly aggregated suicide numbers based on location of residence, and suicide incidence, were obtained in small tertiary planning units (STPUs). Community-level characteristics and population of STPUs were retrieved from 2016 Census. Retrospective space-time analyses were performed to identify locations with elevated suicide rates over specific time periods, i.e., spatial–temporal clusters. Clusters were evaluated for overall suicide (any method), as well as jumping, hanging, and charcoal burning methods, in location of residence and suicide incidence. Bi-variate analysis was performed to compare the characteristics of cases, and spatial units, inside and outside the clusters. Findings: Suicide clusters involving jumping and charcoal burning were identified, but no hanging clusters were found. The within-cluster distribution of types of housing was different from that of outside. For most of the overall suicide and suicide by jumping clusters, spatial units within the clusters were more socially disadvantaged compared to those outside.Interpretation: Clusters varied by suicide methods, location of residence and location of incidence. The findings highlighted the need for consistent and concerted support from different stakeholders within suicide clusters, to ensure appropriate design, implementation and sustainability of effective suicide prevention programs.
KW - Spatial analysis
KW - Spatio-temporal analysis
KW - Suicide
KW - Suicide cluster
KW - Suicide prevention
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85162860957&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100820
DO - 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100820
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85162860957
SN - 2666-6065
VL - 39
JO - The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific
JF - The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific
M1 - 100820
ER -