Original Article

A public health and suicide risk in Jamaica from 2002 to 2006

Wendel D. Abel, Paul A Bourne, Hayden K. Hamil, Eulalee M. Thompson,
Jacqueline S. Martin, Roger C. Gibson, Frederick W. Hickling

Department of Community Health & Psychiatry
University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies.

Background: Globally, suicide is the third leading cause of mortality among persons aged 15-44 years.  However in Jamaica it is not among the leading cause of mortality; but its importance cannot be ignored because of this fact. Aims: This study seeks to 1) update the prevalence of suicide in Jamaica, 2) make comparisons with international data, 3) provide an understanding of age-sex composition of those who are committing suicides, and 4) provide public health practitioners with valuable information which will be used to inform policy decisions. Materials and Methods: Secondary data published by the Jamaica Constabulary Force was used for this study. Data were summarized using percentages and associations were examined by Kruskal-Wallis or Analysis of Variance. Results: The suicide rate averaged 2.26 per 100,000 over the last six years. In 2006, the suicide rate for males was 9 times higher than that of females. The group of 65-74 age, among the male population, recorded the highest suicide rate (11.3 per 100,000) and the 5-14 age group recorded the lowest (0.3 per 100,000). The highest rate for the female population (3.4 per 100,000) was recorded in the 65-74 age group. The 30-39 age group showed an overall higher rate of suicide over the study period, this was followed by the 40-49 age group. Conclusions: Jamaica’s suicide rate is among the lowest in the world and in spite of this, there is a need to formulate a suicide policy for the nation in particular males and young adults. (Abel WD, Bourne PA, Hamil HK, Thompson EM, Martin JS, Gibson RC, Hickling FW. North Am J Med Sci 2009; 1: 142-147).

Correspondence to: Dr. Paul A Bourne, Research Fellow, Department of Community Health & Psychiatry, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica.  Email: paulbourne1@yahoo.com

Keywords: Self-injurious behaviour, suicide, suicide rate, cultural programmes, prevention programme, public health, Jamaica.