Abstract
Background
Little is known about outcomes after self-harm in East Asia.
Aims
To investigate mortality after self-harm in a Taiwanese population.
Method
Between 2000 and 2003, 1083 individuals who self-harmed were identified through a population self-harm register in Nantou County, Taiwan, and followed until 2007 for date and cause of death on a national mortality database.
Results
In total, 145 individuals died, 48 through suicide. The risks of all-cause and suicide mortality in the first year were 4.7% and 2.1% respectively, representing 8- and 131-fold age- and gender-standardised increases. Male gender and older age were independent risk factors for both suicide and non-suicide mortality. Use of more lethal methods in the index episode was associated with higher mortality but this was accounted for by gender.
Conclusions
Results in this sample support the recommendation that people with a history of recent self-harm should be a major target for suicide prevention programmes.
Little is known about outcomes after self-harm in East Asia.
Aims
To investigate mortality after self-harm in a Taiwanese population.
Method
Between 2000 and 2003, 1083 individuals who self-harmed were identified through a population self-harm register in Nantou County, Taiwan, and followed until 2007 for date and cause of death on a national mortality database.
Results
In total, 145 individuals died, 48 through suicide. The risks of all-cause and suicide mortality in the first year were 4.7% and 2.1% respectively, representing 8- and 131-fold age- and gender-standardised increases. Male gender and older age were independent risk factors for both suicide and non-suicide mortality. Use of more lethal methods in the index episode was associated with higher mortality but this was accounted for by gender.
Conclusions
Results in this sample support the recommendation that people with a history of recent self-harm should be a major target for suicide prevention programmes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 31 - 36 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | British Journal of Psychiatry |
| Volume | 198 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2011 |
