High prevalence of medicine-induced attempted suicides among females in Nuuk, Greenland, 2008–2009

Abstract

BackgroundThe suicide rate in Greenland, especially among men, is among the highest in the world. Attempted suicide rates may be high also. However, the rates of attempted suicide are unknown.ObjectiveWe aimed to estimate the age- and gender-specific incidence of attempted suicide using medicine in Nuuk in 2008–2009.DesignAn observational retrospective study of consecutive medical records on patients admitted to Dronning Ingrids Hospital in Nuuk in 2008–2009 with possible medicine intoxication.ResultsSeventy-four (60 females and 14 men) cases of attempted suicide using medicine were included. Of those, 43 used paracetamol alone or in combination with other medicine. The incidence of attempted suicide using medicine was higher among females than males (p<0.001). The highest incidence of attempted suicide with paracetamol was found among women aged 20–24 years (0.84%). The highest incidence of suicide with medication (1.31 per 100 inhabitants per year) was among women aged 15–19 years.ConclusionsThe incidence of attempted suicide using medicine was high in Nuuk, Greenland, especially among women. The highest incidence of suicide attempts with medication was observed among women in the age group 15–19 years (1.31%). This may reflect psychosocial vulnerability among young people in Greenland. Initiatives to improve living conditions for children and adolescents are highly recommended to be initiated immediately.

Time trend by region of suicides and suicidal thoughts among Greenland Inuit

“…The difference in suicide rates between men and women was particularly pronounced in the 20–24 age group. The difference between suicide rates for men and women could be due in part to the choice of suicidal methods since men choose more drastic methods ( 1 , 5 ). Unfortunately, there is very little information about suicide attempts in Greenland, but a study among Inuit youth in Nunavik, Canada, showed a similar gender pattern with much higher prevalence of suicide attempts among women than among men ( 28 ).…”

“…Although most authors have concentrated on social risk factors, latitude and season may play a role since suicides were more common in the summer months, especially at high latitudes ( 3 , 4 ). The incidence of suicide attempts by overdose of medications was high in Nuuk compared with England and Wales, especially among young women ( 5 ). Alcohol intoxication was present in 50% of emergency visits due to suicide attempts in the Greenland health care system ( 6 ).…”

Prevalence of patients treated with antidepressant medicine in Greenland and Denmark: a cross-sectional study

“…A systematic review and network meta-analysis of 195 countries [2] identified Greenland as the country with the third highest age-standardised incidence rate of major depression (6.26 per 1000) in 2017. A number of studies furthermore indicate a high degree of mental vulnerability in Greenland [11,12], including a high suicide rate [13] and many medication overdoses [14]. In Greenland, the prevalence of patients treated with antidepressants is unknown.…”

Suicide attempts among Greenlandic forensic psychiatric patients – prevalence and determinants

“…In a 2015 survey from Nunavik, 31% of adolescents aged 15–24 reported having attempted suicide in their lifetime [ 40 ]. A literature review from 2009 focusing on mental health, substance misuse, and suicidal behaviour in the Arctic found that the lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts among adolescents varied from 9.5% in Norway to 34% in Canada [ 41 ]. In our study, we describe the lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts in a patient population with a mean age of 44 years, which could partly explain the higher lifetime prevalence, but due to the described heterogeneity, further comparisons are considered unfeasible.…”

“…In contrast to most other studies, we found no association between gender and suicide attempts [ 14–16 ]. A review from 2009 about suicidal behaviour among young people below 25 years throughout the Arctic found that men had higher rates of suicidal behaviour overall and that women had higher rates of suicide attempts [ 41 ]. However, older studies from Greenland found no gender differences [ 46 , 47 ].…”