فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Background: Investigating temporal variations and forecasting trends in completed suicide can help prevent adverse outcomes and guide the development of intervention programs. Objectives: This study investigated completed suicide in northern Iran, specifically in Mazandaran Province, from 2016 to 2021 and examined suicide mortality trends using joinpoint regression analysis. Methods: This retrospective, registry-based descriptive trend study analyzed all registered suicide deaths in Mazandaran Province, Iran, from March 2015 to March 2022, using data from the Forensic Medicine Organization. Joinpoint regression analysis was performed using Joinpoint software version 4.9.0.0 to assess trends in suicide mortality, with the crude death rate as the dependent variable and time as the independent variable. The annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC) were calculated with 95% confidence intervals. Years of life lost (YLL) were estimated by age and gender using standard life expectancy, and suicide mortality rates were reported per 100,000 population. Results: A total of 1,237 suicide cases were analyzed. The mean age was 37.5 years (SD = 15.9), and most cases were male (66%). The highest number of deaths occurred between 2018 and 2021, with a peak in 2019. Married individuals constituted the largest marital-status group (40.7%), and only 9.8% had a previous suicide attempt. The most common suicide methods were categorized as "other" methods (58.5%) and rice pill (aluminum phosphide) ingestion (37.3%). Across all years, males consistently had higher mean ages at death and higher suicide rates than females. YLL was greatest among males aged 25 - 29 years and females aged 15 - 19 years, indicating these as vulnerable age groups. Joinpoint regression analysis showed no statistically significant changes or joinpoints in suicide trends from 2016 to 2021, with a modest but nonsignificant annual increase in suicide rates (APC = 4.19%; P = 0.22). Both sexes showed slight upward trends around 2018; however, these trends were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Overall, suicide trends in northern Iran remained relatively stable but persistent during the study period, underscoring the need for continued monitoring and targeted prevention efforts. Therefore, the government should adopt appropriate health policies to address this concern.