Space-time self-harm and suicide clusters in two cities in Taiwan.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Suicidal acts may cluster in time and space and lead to community concerns about further imitative suicidal episodes. Although suicide clusters have been researched in previous studies, less is known about the clustering of non-fatal suicidal behaviour (self-harm). Furthermore, most previous studies used crude temporal and spatial information, e.g., numbers aggregated by month and residence area, for cluster detection analysis. This study aimed to (i) identify space-time clusters of self-harm and suicide using daily incidence data and exact address and (ii) investigate the characteristics of cluster-related suicidal acts.

Methods

Data on emergency department presentations for self-harm and suicide deaths in Taipei City and New Taipei City, Taiwan, were used in this stud

SUBMITTER: Lu FW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10294245 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature