Background The incidence rate of suicide has been increased in Iran over the past decades especially in East Azerbaijan Province which there are limited studies on suicide. We aimed to investigate the 12-year trend of suicide and demographic characteristics in East Azerbaijan Province during the period 2007–2018. We obtained the data on the suicide mortality and socio-demographic status from the Death Registry Information System (DRIS) and compared with legal medicine suicide statistics during the study period. Results A total of 2422 and 1783 suicide cases were reported by legal medicine and DRIS (average incidence rate 5.94 vs 4.4 per 100,000) in the 12-year period from 2007 to 2018, respectively. The suicide rate in males was more than two times that of females. The mean and median age of suicide was 34.07 and 31 years, respectively. The most common suicide method was hanging (51.9%). The incidence rate of suicide cases was decreasing between 2007 and 2014, however from 2015 to 2018 has been increased. Conclusions The incidence rate of suicide in this province has been increasing with a smooth slope. Community-based programs and measures should be taken to stop the growth rate of suicide.

Background. Suicide is recognized as a public health issue in Malekan County through a health community assessment. A community-based suicide prevention program was conducted during 2014-2017. Methods. This health system research was conducted in seven steps, including conducting systematic reviews, gathering expert opinions, improving the coverage of suicide attempt records, conducting research to identify regional risk factors, conducting follow ups and managing the individuals attempting suicide, training health gatekeepers, and launching public awareness campaigns. Our goal was to lower the rates of suicide, and suicide attempt by 15% and 20%, respectively. Multiple logistic regression was calculated to estimate the adjusted odds ratios and the 95% confidence intervals. Result. 821 suicide attempts and 32 suicides had been recorded in the county. 70% of the suicides had been committed by men while the majority of attempters were females (64%). Most of the suicides (18cases-56.25%) had occurred in the spring while the majority of suicide attempts (288cases-35.8%) had been recorded in the summer. The common methods (62%) suiciders used were hanging and poisoning, which increased death risk significantly (OR: 8.5, 95% CI: 2.9–76.99). The incidence rates of suicide and suicide attempts reduced from 11.22, and 203 per 100,000 in 2013 to 2.63, and 157 in 2017, respectively. Suicide re-attempts also diminished from 12% in 2013 to 6.7% in 2017. Conclusion. Suicide, SA, and re-attempt were lowered by 75%, 22%, and 42%, respectively. Practical Implications. The practical framework that emerged out of the present study can be used for generating future suicide prevention strategies. Furthermore, our study highlights the need to consider a wide range of contextual factors when developing suicide prevention programs.

Background Suicide is a complex and ongoing public health crisis which is a misinterpreted course of death that strongly affects communities’ and individuals’ mental health and quality of life. Health managers often do not have adequate information for decision making on what strategy makes an effective impact on suicide prevention. Despite the availability of global Suicide Prevention Programs (SPP) around the world, no previous investigation has developed combinations of a review of systematic reviews with expert opinions. The present study was aimed to identify effective community-based strategies for suicide prevention. Methods We used two methods for selecting the best and effective SPP. 1) review of systematic reviews: we systematically searched to find relevant review studies through Medline, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and grey literatures, from January 1, 2011, and December 30, 2014. 2) Expert panel opinions: effective strategies identified from the previous step were combined with field and academic expert views via the Hanlon method. Then the strategies have been rated based on the following five criteria: feasibility, importance, cost-effectiveness, timeliness, acceptability. Results Of the total of 489 identified records, 9 reviews included in the review of systematic reviews. A total of 12 effective SPP were found. Expert panel then prioritized strategies based on Hanlon method as following: 1) case management of attempters to prevent future attempts, 2) identification and treatment of depression, 3) improving registry for suicide, 4) identification and investigation of suicidal behaviors’ risk factors, 5) public education campaigns in hotspots, 6) gatekeepers’ training, 7) conducting research, 8) school-based training 9) improving knowledge and attitudes, 10) restricting access to means of suicide, 11) screening of suicide ideation and at-risk people, and 12) mass media role, respectively. Conclusion Management of suicide attempters, developing a registry for suicide, and treatment of depression were three priority and basic interventions suggested after evidence combined with the expert panel. Suicide is a multifaceted phenomenon that is strongly affected by local beliefs. Effective management of suicide requires up-to-date information through a combination of evidence with expert views at the local level where SPP are implemented.

Background In the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, health service providers (HCPs) suffered from mental health consequences such as depression, anxiety, fear, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study aimed to evaluate the adverse psychological impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on HSPs at the Tabriz University of Medical Science, North West of Iran. An online survey was conducted to assess the psychological adverse effects of COVID-19 during the pandemic of COVID-19 from May 2021 to February 2022. Psychological adverse effects including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and fear were measured using valid instruments. Overall, 298 HSPs responded to the questionnaires. Descriptive and multiple logistic regression analyses with crude and adjusted ORs were used to estimate mental health adverse effects. Results The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms, major depression disorder (MDD), anxiety, and probable PTSD were 58%, 9.1%, 61.7%, and 15%, respectively. The fear of COVID-19 scale (mean) was 17.6± 6.2. We found mental health adverse effects were higher in HSPs who worked in the treatment and health sections than HSPs in the support section. Having a history of mental disorder, HSP type (health and treatment), and female sex had a statistically significant association with MDD and depressive symptoms. Conclusions Mental health problems were high in HSPs. The study highlights the demand for support systems and appropriate interventions for improving HSPs’ mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background and Objectives: Chronic diseases are the leading causes of death in many countries in the globe. Behavioral risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and the lack of physical activity are the most important determinants of these diseases and mortality. The source of behavioral risk factors in chronic diseases are in childhood and adolescence. The aim of this study was to investigate the behavioral risk factors and pattern in adolescents in Tabriz city, northwest of Iran. Material and Methods: A total of 1517 high school students were recruited for this cross-sectional study in Tabriz city using cluster random sampling. The data were collected using Global Schoolbased Student Health Survey tool introduced by the World Health Organization. Results: Five percent of students had smoked once or more within the last 30 days. Nearly, twenty percent of students had a previous experience of cigarette smoking. About one percent of the cases had experienced different forms of drug consumption. Our findings showed that 4.2 percent (CI: 3.1-5.2) had committed suicide at least once during the last year and 4.2 percent of the students had carried cold weapons with them at least once every week. Eighty percent never used bike for sports, work or leisure. More than 45 percent of the students had some training courses in the classroom on the prevention of HIV infection, and 41.9 percent had talked to their parents about this matter. Conclusion: Based on our findings, more educational courses are needed in schools. Multi-sectoral collaboration in education, health and policy-making would also have a key role to improve adolescent health status in the community.