Years of Life Lost due to Suicide in Southern Iran 2011-18: A Population-Based Study

Abstract

Background: Suicide is a major public health concern with diversity in epidemiological aspects and applied methods. In this study, we estimate years of life lost (YLLs) related to completed suicidal in the Fars province, southern Iran. Methods: Our study included data of all mortality events during 2011-2018 from Fars Suicide Surveillance System (FSSS). The validity of qualitative and quantitative variables was assessed through contrasting data between different sources and phone call justification. Case-fatality rates, age-specific and gender-specific mortality rates, ASR (age standardized rate), and YLLs through WHO's 2015 “YLL template” were calculated. Results: During the study period, 2384 mortalities with a mean age of 32.73 ± 15.65 had been registered. Most of them were males (male: 70.05% vs. female: 29.95%; male-female ratio: 2.33), hanging was the most frequent method (29.94%), and an increasing pattern in successful suicidal attempts was observed. The total YLLs were calculated to be 58 669 years (14.71 per 1000 persons). Regardless of year or gender, suicide had the largest YLLs amongst those aged 15-29 years. Conclusion: Regarding the increasing trend in YLLs and observing the highest rate of successful suicidal attempts amongst active and productive members of community, a comprehensive inter organizational reaction is demanded.