Socioeconomic factors and suicide mortality trends in Taipei City between 1991 and 2004

Objectives: To examine the relationship between socioeconomic factors and suicide mortality trends in Taipei City between 1991 and 2004. Methods: We used data obtained from the Taipei City Bureau of Health to assess Pearson's correlation coefficients between a series of socioeconomic factors, such as unemployment rates, social mobility rates, divorce rates, percentage of single person households, and poverty rates, and age-standardized suicide mortality rates. Cochrane-Orcutt regression was used to evaluate the relationship between socioeconomic factors and suicide death rates; the analysis was stratified by age and gender. Results: Pearson' s correlation analysis showed that with the exception of the female labor force participation rate, all socioeconomic factors had a significant association with suicide death rates (P<0.05); the associations were stronger among males than females. The results obtained by Cochrane-Orcutt regression analysis were similar to the results derived from Pearson's correlation analysis. In addition, the relationships between socioeconomic factors and suicide rates were stronger among males than females, especially in the 25-64 year old age groups. Conclusions: Socioeconomic factors were powerful determinants of suicide among males, especially for middle-aged men. These finding suggest that implementation of appropriate social policies should be an integral part of an optimal suicide prevention program.