Suicide attempt in a rural area of Vietnam: Incidence, methods used and access to mental health care

Abstract

ObjectivesThe study aims to determine the incidence of suicide attempt, describe the methods used, and assess use of health care services including mental health care after suicide attempt in a rural area of Vietnam.MethodsAll suicide attempters (104) during 2003-2007 were listed, diagnosed and re-evaluated by trained physicians according to the research criteria of the WHO Multicentre Study of Attempted Suicide. All attempters were interviewed by trained medical staff to investigate methods used, socio-demographic characteristics and use of health services.ResultsThe yearly incidence was 10.2 per 100000 person-years, 10.6 per 100000 in males and 9.8 per 100000 in females. 99% of cases committed suicide attempt by poisoning, 62.6% by pesticides and 36.3% by pharmaceutical drugs. 34.3% reported having been in contact with somatic care and 13.2% had received mental health care. Among those who reported some treatment received, 47.5% had been in contact with official health care services, 8.1% had pharmacy keepers' consultation or were treated by traditional healers and 4% reported self treatment.ConclusionThe incidence of suicide attempt was lower in this population compared to other settings. While the majority of attempters use pesticides, many had used psychotropic drugs. Contact with mental health services following the attempt was very limited in this setting. Suicide prevention for this high risk group should focus on reducing access to pesticides and psychotropic drugs. Mental health services should be made more accessible in rural areas.

Variables relacionadas con la tentativa suicida en una provincia de España durante tres años (2009-2011)

“…cause higher levels of stress compared with other important stages in a person's life. As such, this may be a factor that modulates the appearance of psychological disorders or aggravates them, as claimed in previous studies 19,46 . Thus, it is particularly important to consider the person's age and the difficult situations they are likely to face in order to gauge the risk level for a suicide attempt, as reflected in other findings 23,31 .…”

“…As such, it would appear that suicide attempts are undertaken more frequently by women than by men, and that men resort to more lethal methods than their female counterparts 13 . However, gender-based modulation of suicide attempt varies from one country to another 12,14,15 and even from region to region within the same country [16][17][18][19] . There is also a strong relationship between sex and age relative to suicidal behavior 20 .…”

Tentativas de suicídio atendidas em unidades públicas de saúde de Fortaleza-Ceará, Brasil

“…Na afirmação de certos autores, indivíduos com problemas de saúde estão fortemente associados com tentativas de suicídio. Ainda como afirmam, na presença de doenças os profissionais estão em contato regular com pacientes em risco de suicídio, e estes são um recurso importante para a detecção precoce e prevenção do comportamento suicida (4). Em relatório sobre cuidados de prevenção ao suicídio na Universidade de Michigan, o autor informa que a prevenção do suicídio pode começar na emergência ou unidade de internação, podendo se prolongar por meses e até anos já que alguns pacientes às vezes permanecem em risco crônico (21).…”

“…Quanto às tentativas de suicídio, não existem dados exatos no mundo, a maioria dos países não tem sistemas de monitoramento. Em estudo na área rural do Vietnam, segundo os autores referem, as pesquisas sobre tentativas de suicídios são mais frequentes em hospitais e áreas de captação epidemiológica (4). De acordo com a OMS, a cada três segundos, uma pessoa atenta contra a própria vida e, para cada ato concretizado, existem pelo menos dez tentativas e para cada tentativa registrada, ocorrem quatro desconhecidas (5).…”

A different suicide attempt in an elderly patient: A case report

“…In our case the efforts of our patient who tried to stab himself with help of a brick because he could not succeed by his own power shows his determination to die. Nguyen et al (2010) in their study observed that study Vietnam 99% of cases of suicide were performed by taking drugs and 1% by using a sharp object. Penetrating patients with the diagnosis of chronic disease and psychiatric illness and their relatives should be warned against the risk of suicide.…”