Rates, trends and socioeconomic characteristics of attempted suicide in Taiwan, 1996-2004

Background: Hospitalization rates for attempted suicide rose substantially in Taiwan in recent years. This study aims to explore the trends in attempted suicide for separate age bands and to assess the socioeconomic differences based on a nationwide level. Methods: Hospitalization rates and the percentages of socio-demographic data were calculated using computerized files extracted from the National Health Insurance Database, which was available from 1996 to 2004. Results: There was a substantially increasing trend in hospital admissions of para-suicide for all age groups between 1996 and 2004. The highest average age-adjusted rate of attempted suicide was 20.43 for men and 25.36 for women; the lowest age-adjusted rate was 10.68 for men and 15.96 for women. Higher hospitalization rates for attempted suicide were observed in men aged over 65 years and women aged 25-34 years; lower rates were shown among men aged 45-54 years and women aged 55-64 years. In consist with other countries, soft methods (poisoning and cutting) were used primarily across all age groups for both genders. Further analyses showed that above ninety percent of suicide attempters belonged to the lowest two premium levels and that more individuals worked in private sectors compared with the general population. Conclusions: This study suggested that socioeconomic differences may have great impact on suicide attempt. Future research should focus on understanding the base rates of the different socioeconomic variables in the general population, and the culture context behind such changes. Keywords: attempted suicide, rates, trends, socioeconomic, Taiwan