Understanding suicide clusters through exploring self-harm behaviors

Lee, Sze Chim, Rouquette, Olivier Y., Hawton, Keith, Cleobury, Louise, Spencer, Sarah, Lloyd, Keith, Gunnell, David, Scourfield, Jonathan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6218-8158 and John, Ann 2023. Understanding suicide clusters through exploring self-harm behaviors. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention 10.1027/0227-5910/a000930

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Abstract

Abstract:Background: There is little information about characteristics and long-term outcomes of individuals who self-harm during a suicide cluster. Aims: To compare characteristics of individuals who self-harmed during a suicide cluster in South Wales (∼10 deaths between December 2007 and March 2008) with others who self-harmed prior to the cluster and to evaluate 10-year self-harm and mortality outcomes. Method: Using records from the hospital serving the catchment area of the suicide cluster, enhanced by national routinely collected linked data, we created the following two groups: individuals who self-harmed (a) during the suicide cluster and (b) 1 year before. We compared individuals’ characteristics and performed logistic regression to compute odds ratios of 10-year self-harm and mortality outcomes. Results: Individuals who self-harmed during the cluster were less likely to be hospitalized or have a mental health history than those who self-harmed prior to the cluster. No significant group differences were found for 10-year self-harm outcomes, but all-cause mortality was higher for males. Limitations: Sample size was small, and data were lacking on psychological and social proximity to individuals who died during the suicide cluster. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the importance of long-term healthcare follow-up of those who self-harm during a suicide cluster, particularly males.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Publisher:	Hogrefe
ISSN:	0227-5910
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	8 December 2023
Date of Acceptance:	1 September 2023
Last Modified:	08 Dec 2023 11:51
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/164568

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