Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Syrians have faced violence and displacement causing an increase in mental health issues. The COVID-19 pandemic, the 2023 earthquake, and deteriorating living conditions have exacerbated these issues. Suicide in Syria remains an under-researched topic since accurate data are difficult to obtain. In this study, we aimed to explore the demographics and risk factors of suicide in Syria by performing a retrospective content analysis of selected online news (media) outlets from across Syria. Twelve news outlets from the three regions of Syria were selected and news of suicide cases were searched retrospectively. The age range was between 9 and 79 years old with the average age being 27.1 ± SD 5.9 years. The most reported causes of suicide were harsh living conditions (18.5%) and relationship problems (18.3%). The most common method of suicide was hanging followed by using firearms. More suicides occurred at night and in the summer and spring seasons. Based on our study’s results, young adult, male, unmarried, individuals in rural settings and northern governorates were at the highest risk of suicide in Syria. This study highlights the urgent need for mental health interventions that address the unique challenges faced by Syrians.

The present study aims to compare the suicide rates in people over 85 years of age in relation to overall suicide rates in different European countries. In addition, the study aims to perform a preliminary analysis of which socioeconomic factors could explain higher suicide rates in this age group in Europe. An analysis of the Eurostat database has been made. In this pilot phase, certain socioeconomic variables representative of people over 85 years of age were chosen based on criteria of suitability, according to the bibliography available for other regions and availability of the information provided. The conditional suicide rate in this age group with respect to the overall suicide rate in each country has been calculated. Furthermore, Spearman correlations between the suicide rates in this age group and the chosen socioeconomic factors were performed. Conditional suicide rates in people over 85 years of age show a marked difference between southern and northern European countries. In the correlational analysis, suicide in this age group was associated with different economic ratios, the old-age dependency ratio, and the self-perceived health ratio. After performing a multivariate regression, the model that best explained the differences between the European countries included the variables "old-age dependency ratio" and "economic impossibility to buy new clothes ratio.” Different socioeconomic factors, specifically poverty and economic inequality, added to the old-age dependency ratio, could explain huge differences between the suicide rates in people over 85 years of age in the different European countries.

Depression, the major cause of suicide, is prevalent but an under-detected, underdiagnosed and, under-treated illness and it is particularly true for depressed suicide victims. However, several studies consistently show that successful treatment of depression not only relieves depressive symptoms, but also decreases and makes suicidality vanish. If the rate of treated depressions in the population increases gradually, at a given point it will appear in the decline of the suicide rates. Although absolute evidence is lacking at present, recent reports from some European countries strongly suggest that increasing utilisation of antidepressants is one of the most important contributing factors in the decrease in suicide rates.

Suicide and suicide attempts have become more prevalent in recent years, with notable increases in the US in all age groups and geographic locations. Risk of suicide is particularly high among patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder or severe depression, especially when associated with mixed features or agitation, or with co-occurring substance abuse. Factors contributing to such risk include relative social and geographic isolation and low access to sources of support or clinical care. In addition, unemployment, poverty, demoralisation and opioid abuse have been identified as important risk factors. Notably, overall longevity rates in the US, though rising for many decades, have recently been declining, in part owing to suicide and substance overdoses. A particular circumstance associated with strikingly high rates of suicides and attempts is the days and weeks following discharge from psychiatric hospitalisation. Although the incidence of such events is low, there is a need for more secure aftercare planning and implementation. Research on therapeutics aimed at reducing suicidal risk and all-cause mortality among psychiatric patients remains severely under-developed.

Background. The elderly population size is growing worldwide due increased life expectancy and decreased mortality in the elderly. This has lead to an increase in the number of centenarians, and their numbers are predicted to increase further. Little is known about suicide rates in centenarians.

Methods. Data on the number of suicides (ICD-10 codes, X60–84) in centenarians of both gender for as many years as possible from 2000 were ascertained from three sources: colleagues, national statisics office websites and e-mail contact with the national statistics offices of as many countries as possible. The number of centernarians for the corresponding years was estimated for each country using data provided by the United Nations website.

Results. Data were available from 17 countries. The suicide rate was 57 (95% confidence interval 45–69) per 100, 000 person years in men and 6.8 (95% confidence interval 5.1–8.5) per 100,000 person years in women.

Conclusions. Suicide rates were sufficiently large amongst centenarians for there to constitute a public health concern given the anticipated rise in the centenarian population and the paucity of data on risk and protective factors for suicide in this age group.

Background: Studies examining trends in elderly suicide rates over time reported a decline, an increase and no change. A cross-national study was undertaken to examine the current status of trends over time in elderly suicide rates because previous cross-national studies were well over a decade old.

Methods: Trends in suicide rates for males and females in the age-bands 65–74 years and 75+ years over a 10-year period were examined using data from the World Health Organization website for all the listed countries.

Results: The main findings were: (1) elderly suicide rates either declined or remained unchanged over the 10-year period in most countries; and, (2) suicide rates in both sexes in both the age-bands, over the 10-year period, declined in several European countries, and remained unchanged in several Central and South American countries, Eastern European countries and countries of the former Soviet Union.

Conclusions: Potential explanations for regional and cross-national variations in trends over time in elderly suicide rates include cross-national differences in trends over time in the prevalence of mental illness in the elderly, socioeconomic factors, cultural factors, the availability of appropriate healthcare services, and public health initiatives to improve the detection and treatment of mental illness, mental health and suicide prevention.

Background: Socioeconomic status may influence cross-national variations in elderly suicide rates.

Methods: The relationship between suicide rates in both sexes in the age-bands 65–74 years and 75+ years and (i) life expectancy, (ii) measures of socioeconomic status (per capita gross national domestic product (GDP) and the Gini coeffcient), and (iii) measures of the quality and quantity of available healthcare services (the proportion of GDP spent on health, per capita expenditure on health and child mortality rates) was examined using data from the World Health Organization and the United Nations.

Results: The main findings were: (i) a significant negative correlation between the Gini coefficient and suicide rates for both sexes in both age-bands; (ii) a significant positive correlation between per capita expenditure on health and suicide rates for both sexes in both age-bands; (iii) the significant positive correlation between the proportion of GDP spent on health and suicide rates was only evident in males in both age-bands; (iv) a significant negative correlation between child mortality rates and suicide rates for both sexes in both age-bands; and, (v) the significant positive correlation between life expectancy and suicide rates was evident in females in both age-bands.

Conclusions: A potentially testable model with five sequential stages was proposed to explain these findings.

Background: Suicide rates generally increase with age. With the emergence of studies from several countries without an increase in suicides rates with aging, a cross-national study examining the relationship between suicide rates and age was undertaken.

Methods: The relationship between suicide rates and age was examined by ascertaining suicide rates in both sexes in seven age-bands 16–24 years, 25–34 years, 35–44 years, 45–54 years, 55–64 years, 65–74 years and 75+ years, from the World Health Organization website for all the listed countries (N = 62).

Results: The main findings were: (i) there was a significant increase in suicide rates with increasing age in males and females in 25 and 27 countries respectively; (ii) there was no significant increase in suicide rates with increasing age in males and females in 31 and 29 countries respectively; (iii) suicide rates were the highest in the younger age-bands in countries without a significant increase in male suicides rates with increasing age; (iv) countries without a significant increase in the suicide rate with increasing age in both sexes, females only and males only demonstrated regional clustering; and, (v) in a small number of countries suicide rates declined with increasing age.

Conclusions: Potential explanations for regional and cross-national variations in the relationship between suicide rates and age require further study.

Objectives: To determine to what extent official suicide rates in counties Kildare and Mayo underestimate the rates as clinically determined, and to examine and compare the association between the sociodemographic characteristics of the two Irish counties and trends in the suicide rates.

Method: Populations for the two counties for the years 1988-1994 were calculated. Official suicide mortality data was obtained from the Central Statistics Office. Following examination of the coroners' files for both counties the number of suicides was estimated using clinical criteria.

Results: Neither county showed a significant change in suicide mortality over time from 1988-1994. Suicide was underestimated in official mortality data for each county. There were significant differences in the choice of method of suicide with an excess of drowning in Mayo and of shooting in Kildare. Mayo suicides were more likely to be single and unemployed.

Conclusions: Much local research is needed before implementing suicide prevention programmes due to the many demographic differences and differences in traditions and choice of method of suicide that exist between counties.