Trends and socio-demographic determinants of suicide-related mortality in Türkiye: An epidemiological study from 2009 to 2022

Didem Han Yekdeş; Miraç Çağlayan; Ali Cem Yekdeş; Safiye Takır Stewart; Emine Gökçen Selçuk; Ülfiye Çelikkalp; Galip Ekuklu

doi:10.1177/00207640241285817

Trends and socio-demographic determinants of suicide-related mortality in Türkiye: An epidemiological study from 2009 to 2022

Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2024 Oct 6:207640241285817. doi: 10.1177/00207640241285817. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Didem Han Yekdeş¹, Miraç Çağlayan¹, Ali Cem Yekdeş¹, Safiye Takır Stewart¹, Emine Gökçen Selçuk¹, Ülfiye Çelikkalp¹, Galip Ekuklu¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey.

PMID: 39369288
DOI: 10.1177/00207640241285817

Abstract

Background: Suicide is a leading cause of death, particularly among the young age group, in Türkiye, a country with a high population of young people.

Aim: The aim of this study is determine the suicide related mortality trend and some associated socio-demographic factors in Türkiye between 2009 and 2022.

Methods: The study includes an epidemiological trend on suicide. The Turkish Statistical Institute's data portal was used. The study population is 46,691 people (Male/female ratios = 74.6%/ 25.4%). Changes in mortality trends were evaluated using the Joinpoint Regression method with Annual Percentage Change (APC) and Average Percentage Change (AAPC) analysis.

Results: Over the past 14 years in Türkiye, there has been a statistically significant increase in the standardized mortality rate among males (2009-2022 APC = .76, p = .012) and a statistically non-significant decrease among females (2009-2022 APC = -1.62, p = .083). According to the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS-1) classification, the highest increase is observed in the Central Anatolia region followed by the Western Black Sea region (APC = 3.0 and 2.7, respectively; p < .005). While the percentage of primary school and below has decreasing trends (2009-2022 APC = -7.11, p < .005), there is a significant increase in the percentage of university graduates (2009-2016 APC = 10.87, p < .001). Regarding the marital status, there is a significant decrease in the percentage of those who are married (2009-2013 APC = -3.36, p < .001; 2013-2016 APC = 2.42, p = .037; 2016-2022 APC = -2.31, p = .003) and a significant increase in those who have never been married (2009-2013 APC = 2.63, p < .001; 2013-2016 APC = -1.36, p = .002).

Conclusion: Although suicide related mortality is below the global average, there has been an increasing trend in turkey in the last 14 years. Analytical and intervention studies on the socio-demographic determinants supporting the increasing trend are needed.

Keywords: Suicide mortality; Türkiye; socio demographic determinants; trend analysis.