The Ecuadorian earthquake in April 16th was the second strongest and deadliest in 2016 worldwide, with approximately one million people affected. In this paper, we analyzed the psychological impact ...and the relationship between mental health events and various earthquake-related stressors related to the earthquake, 9 months after the event.
We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study, applying an anonymous survey to 316 adolescents (13-19 years old) from Muisne, Ecuador. Suicidal tendency, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress (PTSD) were evaluated via the Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS), Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, Okasha Suicidality Scale, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and the adapted seven-questions earthquake-related stressors survey.
We found a high prevalence of suicidal ideations and behavior, posttraumatic stress, depression and anxiety compared to international studies. Even though adolescents currently living in shelters had higher levels of anxiety, their suicidal tendency was significantly lower than those living in their own or their relatives' home. Finally, the earthquake-related stressors were not associated with suicidality and mental health events, with the exception of economic damage suffered by the family.
High levels of depression, post-traumatic stress and anxiety among high-school students were found, especially among those who have suffered serious economic damage. The economic impact in their families and high unemployment rates among their parents seems to be related to lack of hope and favorable perspectives for their future, situation that might lead to lead to emotional disturbances and psychological disorders. Although prolonged homelessness experience in shelters may be a stressful occurrence, might also be related with spiritual growth among adolescents, and may work as a protective factor against suicidal ideations and attempts.
Ecuador has been one of the most affected countries by the Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, by April 2020 this country presented the highest rates of mortality in Latin America. The ...purpose of the present study was to identify behaviors during confinement and sociodemographic variables associated with the mental health status of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients who were part of the epidemiological surveillance program in Ecuador that included mandatory confinement and self-isolation. A cross-sectional study was performed from March 22th to April 18th, 2020 using an online survey. The survey collected socio-demographic information and severity of depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and anxiety symptoms through the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7. A total of 759 patients completed the questionnaire, 20.3% presented moderate to severe symptoms of depression and 22.5% moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety. Being a woman and from the Coastal region were risk factors. Exercising, maintaining daily routines, and keeping informed about the COVID-19 but limiting to an hour was associated with better mental health. Regression analysis indicated that the mentioned behaviors explained approximately 17% of the variance for depression sum scores and 11.8% of the variance for anxiety sum scores while controlling for gender and region. Understanding the association between sociodemographic variables and psychological states in patients with COVID-19 is relevant to tackle future public mental health problems and to implement health policies that are intended to palliate further psychiatric complications. Promotion of modifiable behaviors such as exercising, maintaining daily routines, and keeping informed about the COVID-19 but limiting to less than an hour is recommended.
Background:
Despite most suicides occurring in low-and-middle-income countries (LAMICs), limited reports on suicide rates in older adults among LAMICs are available. In Ecuador, high suicide rates ...have been reported among adolescents. Little is known about the epidemiology of suicides among older adults in Ecuador.
Aim:
To examine the sociodemographic characteristics of suicides among older adults living in Ecuador from 1997 to 2019.
Methods:
An observational study was conducted using Ecuador's National Institute of Census and Statistics database from 1997 to 2019 in Ecuadorians aged 60 and older. International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) (X60-X84)-reported suicide deaths were included in addition to deaths of events of undetermined intent (Y21-Y33). Sex, age, ethnicity, educational level, and method of suicide were analyzed. Annual suicide rates were calculated per 100,000 by age, sex, and method. To examine the trends in rates of suicide, Joinpoint analysis using Poisson log-linear regression was used.
Results:
Suicide rates of female older adults remained relatively stable between 1997 and 2019 with an average annual percentage increase of 2.4%, while the male rates increased between 2002 and 2009, 2014 and 2016, and maintained relatively stable within the past 3 years (2017–2019). The annual age-adjusted male suicide rate was 29.8 per 100,000, while the female suicide rate was 5.26 per 100,000 during the study period. When adding deaths of undetermined intent, the annual male rate was 60.5 per 100,000, while the same rate was 14.3 for women. The most common suicide method was hanging (55.7%) followed by self-poisoning (26.0%). The highest suicide numbers were reported in urban districts, men, and those with lower education status.
Conclusion:
This study contributes to building the baseline for further studies on suicide rates of older adults in Ecuador. Results highlight priority areas of suicide prevention. By examining suicide trends over 23 years, findings can help inform policy and future interventions targeting suicide prevention.
There are widespread concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic may increase suicides. Few studies have analysed effects beyond the pandemic's early months or examined changes in known suicide risk factors.
...Using time series models fit with Poisson regression, we analysed monthly police-reported suicides in Ecuador from January 2015 to June 2021. Treating March 2020 as the start of the pandemic, we calculated rate ratios (RRs) comparing the observed to the expected number of suicides for the total population and by age and sex groups. We investigated changes in risk factors, precipitants, geographic distribution, and suicide methods.
There was no evidence that suicide rates were higher than expected during the pandemic (RR 0·97 95% CI 0·92–1·02). There was some evidence of fewer than expected male suicides (RR 0·95 95% CI 0·90–1·00). The proportion of suicides occurring in urban and coastal areas increased but decreased amongst indigenous and other minorities. The proportions of suicides with evidence of alcohol consumption, disability, and amongst married and cohabiting individuals decreased, whereas suicides where mental health problems were considered contributory increased. There were relative increases in the proportion of suicides by hanging but decreases in self-poisoning and other suicide methods.
The pandemic did not appear to adversely impact overall suicide numbers nationwide during the first 16 months of the pandemic. Reduced alcohol consumption may have contributed to the decline in male suicides.
None.
ABSTRACT Objective To collect information – and provide it to decision-makers in health programs in general and mental health programs in particular – on epidemiological patterns in suicide deaths ...among young adults and adolescents in Ecuador. Methods A cross-sectional ecological study was conducted using data obtained from records of deaths by suicide among young adults and adolescents in Ecuador from 2001 to 2014. For analysis, results were disaggregated by geographic region, sex, age, ethnic group and suicide method. Rates of death by suicide (per 100,000 population) and relative risks (RR) for suicide were estimated by sex and region. Results Between 2001 and 2014, 4,855 suicides were recorded among adolescents and young adults. The highest estimated risk was found among males aged 15 to 24 years and adolescents living in the Amazon region, followed by those living in the Andean region. Mestizos were the ethnic group with the greatest number of suicides, although 40% of young people who commit suicide in the Amazon region are indigenous. The most frequent method was by hanging, followed by pesticide poisoning. Conclusions Suicide among adolescents and young adults is an important public health problem in Ecuador. Since various psychological, social, and cultural influences come into play, there is wide variation among regions, age groups, and ethnic groups. Restricting access to pesticides and other chemical products, implementing universal prevention programs and programs in education centers in the areas with the highest rates, and targeting vulnerable populations for specific interventions could help reduce the suicide rate among young people in Ecuador.
RESUMEN Objetivo Recabar y ofrecer información a quienes toman decisiones en los programas de salud en general, y de salud mental en particular, sobre las características epidemiológicas del suicidio ...de jóvenes y adolescentes ecuatorianos. Método Se realizó un estudio ecológico transversal con datos de los registros de mortalidad por suicidio de los jóvenes y adolescentes de Ecuador de 2001 a 2014. El análisis se desagregó por región natural, sexo, edad, grupo étnico y por el método usado para cometer el suicidio. Se estimaron tasas de mortalidad por suicidio (por 100 000 habitantes) y los riesgos relativos (RR) de suicidio por sexo y regiones. Resultados Entre 2001 y 2014 se registraron 4 855 suicidios en adolescentes y jóvenes. El riesgo más alto se estimó en los varones de 15 a 24 años y en los adolescentes residentes en la Amazonía, seguidos por los de la Sierra. La etnia con más casos de suicidio fueron los mestizos, aunque 40% de los jóvenes que se suicidan en la Amazonía son indígenas. El método más frecuente fue el ahorcamiento seguido por el envenenamiento con pesticidas. Conclusiones El suicidio de adolescentes y jóvenes es un problema de salud pública importante en Ecuador. Como en él influyen diversos factores psicológicos, sociales y culturales, se observan grandes variaciones según la región, los grupos de edad y las etnias. La restricción del acceso a pesticidas y a otros productos químicos, los programas de prevención universales y en centros educativos en las áreas con las tasas más altas, y las intervenciones específicas dirigidas a grupos vulnerables podrían ayudar a reducir los suicidios de jóvenes en Ecuador.
In this editorial, we would like to inspire policy makers to support the real-time monitoring of suicide. Using real- time data to understand the spatiotemporal variability of suicides will allow ...policy makers evaluate interventions they have invested in and enable them to intervene in a timely manner in situations when an increase in suicides in any region or among any group in the community might be anticipated because of particular circumstances (e.g., quarantine, unemployment and economic crisis, or inappropriate media reporting). Real-time monitoring allows suspicions to be confirmed or rejected, which in turn gives hope for the development of resilience and coping or avoids the spread of inaccurate rumors. Networking and exchange of know-how can help in the development of real- time suicide surveillance systems. Our editorial begins by making the case for real-time surveillance of suicide and then provides examples of systems in three countries: Ecuador, Poland, and Japan. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)
Background: At times, the question for meaning comes to nothing
and a crisis of meaning ensues. This state is very painful, but difficult to account. Both
those who suffer from it and care ...professionals find themselves at a loss for words. Aims:
This study introduces an operationalization of a crisis of meaning. It aims to distinguish
the concept from depression, and to investigate whether a crisis of meaning can explain
suicidality beyond the known protective and risk factors self-esteem, family functioning,
life-event load, and depression. Method: Final-year school pupils in Ecuador (N = 300)
completed questionnaires assessing the above variables. Data were analyzed using chi-square,
hierarchic multiple regression, serial mediation, and moderator analyses. Results: Crisis of
meaning was distinguished from depression. It explained a significant amount of variance in
suicidality beyond the mentioned protective and risk factors. For males, crisis of meaning
was the only significant risk factor, and the strongest predictor overall. The acute risk
factors depression and crisis of meaning mediated the effects of the baseline factors
self-esteem, family functioning, and life-event load on suicidality. Limitations: The study
was cross-sectional; assessed factors predicted variance in suicidal thoughts, plans, and
past suicide attempts, while their relevance cannot be generalized to actual future suicide
attempts. Conclusion: A crisis of meaning is an important factor to take into account in
further research on the prevention and treatment of people at risk of suicide.
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