High temperatures trigger suicide mortality in Brussels, Belgium: A case-crossover study (2002–2011)

Casas, Lidia; Cox, Bianca; Nemery, Benoît; Deboosere, Patrick; Nawrot, Tim S.

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2021.112159

Cited by 17 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 106 publications

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“…Recent research has highlighted the associations between environmental factors and suicide risk: for example, air pollution is associated with suicide (Casas et al, 2017;Heo et al, 2021), while exposure to green spaces may exert a protective effect (Helbich et al, 2018;Jiang et al, 2021;Asri et al, 2022;Mendoza et al, 2023). There is also some evidence that rising temperatures, which may reflect anthropogenic climate change, are associated with a short-term increase in suicide rates (Heo et al, 2021;Casas et al, 2022). Though the exact mechanisms underlying these associations are uncertain, they raise the possibility of a meaningful link between environmental sustainability and suicide at the group level (Shen et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The association between nation-level social and economic indices and suicide rates: A pilot study

Rajkumar

2023

Front. Sociol.

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Ever since the pioneering work of Emile Durkheim, it has been known that regional or national suicide rates can be influenced by a variety of social and economic factors. Recent research has found a robust association between two country-level economic indices—gross national product and unemployment rate—and suicide rates, particularly in men. However, the association between other country-level social indices—such as measures of social integration, inequality, environmental preservation and political freedom—and suicide rates has not been studied at the cross-national level. In the current study, national suicide rates for men and women were examined in relation to seven indices measuring subjective wellbeing, sustainable development, type of political regime, economic and gender inequality, and social capital. It was found that the Happy Planet Index, a composite measure of subjective wellbeing and sustainable development, was negatively associated with suicide rates independent of gender, and even after adjusting for possible confounding factors. Economic inequality was associated with suicide in men, and social capital was associated with suicide in women. Moreover, the strength and direction of the associations observed between socioeconomic indices and suicide varied across income groups. These results highlight the need for a closer evaluation of the link between large-scale (“macro”) social factors and individual (“micro”) psychological factors, as well as the importance of integrating these factors into suicide prevention programmes at the national level.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The association between nation-level social and economic indices and suicide rates: A pilot study

Rajkumar

2023

Front. Sociol.

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“…Similarly, Odabaşı found average daily minimum temperature to be a determinant of suicides across United States counties ( 39 ). A 2022 study from Belgium also found a significant association between higher temperatures and suicides compared to the median temperature, but not between colder temperatures and suicide ( 40 ). A meta-analysis by Kim et al ( 41 ) encompassing over 1.3 million suicides in 12 countries across three continents found that warmer temperatures were associated with the overall suicide risk ( 41 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevention of suicides associated with global warming: perspectives from early career psychiatrists

Shoib,

Hussaini,

Armiya’u

et al. 2023

Front. Psychiatry

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Climate change poses significant challenges to global mental health, with potential consequences including increased rates of suicide and mental health disorders. Early Career Psychiatrists (ECPs) play a crucial role in addressing these challenges. The Climate Psychiatry Alliance, a group of psychiatrists dedicated to improving mental health amidst climate change, recognizes the importance of cultivating climate-aware ECPs. Training ECPs to become confident climate-aware clinicians enables them to effectively treat patients experiencing anxiety, depression, and PTSD in the context of climate-related distress. Together with other mental health professionals, ECPs can contribute to efforts by implementing strategies for monitoring and treating mental health problems arising from climate events. Additionally, they can raise awareness about the psychological consequences and risks of suicide associated with climate change. Collaboration among ECPs from various regions is essential in developing community-based approaches and reducing vulnerabilities. ECPs must prioritize supporting vulnerable populations by advocating for increased funding for mental health support and research in affected areas. Long-term solutions to address the mental health impacts of climate change and global warming should be pursued to mitigate future suicidality. Integrating climate considerations into local mental health programs and expanding psychological support services is crucial. By promoting emotional resilience and self-awareness, ECPs can contribute to building a more climate-resilient and mentally healthy society.

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“…For instance, between 1968 and 2000 in the United States, it was found that a rise of +1 °C in the average monthly temperature was associated with a 0.7% increase in the monthly suicide rate [10]. Studies conducted across various European countries, including Belgium, Switzerland, France, and Spain, have consistently reported associations between increased ambient temperature and suicide mortality [11][12][13][14]. Furthermore, a meta-analysis found the overall relative risk for suicide deaths per 1 °C rise in temperature was 1.01 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.02) [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short-term exposure to ambient temperature and the mortality burden of suicide in Japan

Thawonmas,

Kim,

Hashizume

2024

Environ. Res. Commun.

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BackgroundPrevious studies suggest that temperature may trigger suicide, with higher ambient temperatures associated with increased risk globally. However, quantification of the attributable suicide burden due to non-optimal temperatures, particularly across specific subgroups like sex, age, and method of suicide, is limited. This study aimed to quantify this attributable burden across Japan and assess variations in these subgroups to enhance understanding and identify high-risk populations.MethodsData on daily suicide counts and mean temperatures were collected for all 47 prefectures in Japan (1973-2015) for a comprehensive, nationally representative analysis. Using time-stratified case-crossover analyses and a distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM), we estimated temperature-suicide associations, accounting for long-term trends, seasonality, and day-of-the-week effects, and capturing both nonlinear and delayed impacts of temperature. Overall attributable fractions and fractions attributable to cold (0th-10th percentile), cool (10th-50th), warm (50th-90th), and hot (90th-100th) temperatures were computed. Subgroup analyses were conducted by sex, age (0-64 years and ≥65 years), and method of suicide (violent or nonviolent).ResultsApproximately 19.9% of suicides (95% empirical confidence interval (eCI): 18.8, 20.9) could be attributed to non-optimal temperatures, representing the proportion of cases that would not have occurred under optimal temperature conditions, identified at the temperature corresponding to the minimum risk of suicide. The highest fraction (9.9%, 95% eCI: 9.4, 10.4) was observed for warm temperatures (50th-90th percentile). Higher burdens were observed in females (23.7%), individuals aged ≥65 years (31.9%), and violent suicides (22.4%).ConclusionsNearly 20% of suicides in Japan are associated with non-optimal temperatures, particularly during warmer conditions. These findings highlight the importance of integrating temperature considerations into suicide prevention strategies, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly. While focused on Japan, these results advocate future research to explore similar burdens globally, enhancing our understanding of environmental impacts on suicide and informing targeted public health interventions.

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High temperatures trigger suicide mortality in Brussels, Belgium: A case-crossover study (2002–2011)

Cited by 17 publications

References 106 publications

The association between nation-level social and economic indices and suicide rates: A pilot study

The association between nation-level social and economic indices and suicide rates: A pilot study

Prevention of suicides associated with global warming: perspectives from early career psychiatrists

Short-term exposure to ambient temperature and the mortality burden of suicide in Japan

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