Author(s)

Takuya Hasegawa, Chiyoe Murata, Tatsuya Noda, Tomoko Takabayashi, Takashi Ninomiya, Shinya Hayasaka, Toshiyuki Ojima

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The purpose of our study was to clarify variables associated with suicide ideation and plans in a Japanese population. We conducted a random-sampling survey on mental health and suicide using a self-administered questionnaire for Hamamatsu City residents aged 15-79 yrs between May and June, 2008. This included questions about gender, age, outpatient treatment, alcohol problems, depression, living ar-rangements, marital status, annual family income, industry types as well as suicide ideation and plans. The correlation between these variables and suicide ideation or plans was then analyzed with multiple logistic regression analysis by gender. A total of 1051 responded to this questionnaire (response rate, 53.9%). Variables statistically associated with suicide ideation in males included alcohol problems, depression, lower annual family income, and ac-commodations/eating/drinking services, while in females, the variables were younger age, outpatient treatment, depression, living alone, being single, being separated, lower annual family income, accommodations/eating/drinking services and unemployment. On the other hand, variables statistically associated with suicide plans in males were younger age, alcohol problems, depression, and lower annual family income, while in females they were younger age, alcohol problems, depression, being separated, lower annual family income, manufacturing, and accommodations/eating/drinking services. Ex-cept for industry types, variables associated with suicide ideation or plans were consistent with previous studies. The reason why workers engaging in manufacturing, or accommoda-tions/eating/drinking services were more likely to have suicide ideation or plans may be attributed to the structures and/or stresses unique to those industries.

Suicide Ideation; Suicide Plans; Variables

Hasegawa, T. , Murata, C. , Noda, T. , Takabayashi, T. , Ninomiya, T. , Hayasaka, S. and Ojima, T. (2011) Variables associated with suicide ideation and plans in a Japanese population. Health, 3, 276-287. doi: 10.4236/health.2011.35049.