Historically, seasonal variations in suicide rates were thought to be associated with changes in weather. Most of this evidence however, is based on studies that were conducted in developed countries that are located outside the tropics. As such, it is necessary to examine this association in developing countries, such as Colombia, which do not experience marked seasons. In addition, it is important to adjust for the effect of holidays when analyzing this association as they have been reported to be a relevant confounding factor. Our objective was to estimate the association between daily suicide incidence among men and women in five major Colombian cities (Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, and Bucaramanga) and daily temperature and rainfall. For this purpose, we conducted a multi-city, multi-temporal ecological study from 2005 to 2015, using data from the suicide mortality registries (provided by the National Administrative Department of Statistics). Daily measurements of the two weather variables were obtained from the official historical registry of the meteorological station at each city airport. We used these data to estimate conditional Poisson models for daily suicide counts, stratifying by sex and adjusting for holidays. Although we found that none of the weather variable estimators could reject the null hypothesis, we uncovered an association between suicide incidence and long weekends in the total suicide model (Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR): 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04–1.23). We found no evidence of association between weather variables and suicide in Colombia. Our study is based on daily observations and it provides evidence of absence of this association in a tropical country that does not experience marked seasons.

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/7/1313/pdf

Weather and Suicide: A Decade Analysis in the Five Largest Capital Cities of Colombia.

Recent epidemiological studies have suggested that air pollution could be associated with suicide. However, other studies have criticized these results for being analytically weak and not taking into account potential confounding factors. As such, further studies examining the relationship under diverse contexts are necessary to help clarify this issue. This study explored the association between specific air pollutants (NO2, SO2, PM10, PM2.5, CO and O3) and suicide incidence in four Colombian cities after adjusting for climatic variables and holidays. A time series of daily suicides among men and women living in Bogota, Medellin, Cali and Bucaramanga was generated using information from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) for the years 2011–2014. At the same time, the average daily concentration of each air pollutant for each city was obtained from monitoring stations belonging to the National Air Quality Surveillance System. Using this information together, we generated conditional Poisson models (stratified by day, month and year) for the suicide rate in men and women, with air pollutants as the principal explanatory variable. These models were adjusted for temperature, relative humidity, precipitation and holidays. No association was found between any of the examined pollutants and suicide: NO2 (IRR:0.99, 95% CI: 0.95–1.04), SO2 (IRR:0.99, 95% CI: 0.98–1.01), PM10 (IRR:0.99, 95% CI:0.95–1.03), PM2.5 (IRR:1.01, 95% CI: 0.98–1.05), CO (IRR:1.00, 95% CI:1.00–1.00) and O3 (IRR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.96–1.04). In the same way, no association was found in stratified models by sex and age group neither in lagged and cumulative effects models. After adjusting for major confounding factors, we found no statistically significant association between air pollution and suicide in Colombia. These “negative” results provide further insight into the current discussion regarding the existence of such a relationship.

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Association between air pollution and suicide: a time series analysis in four Colombian cities.

: Suicide behavior in Colombia: A systematic review. The objective of the review was to synthesize the findings about suicide in Colombia between 2004 and 2018. Eighty-eight studies were included in the review. It is noted that most studies focus on risk factors such as depression, psychoactive substance use and family dysfunction; and only few are interested in protective factors, among which family functionality and high self-esteem are prominent; moreover, the statistical models used are mostly descriptive and studies are not based on theoretical models on suicide. Finally, some lines of research are proposed, such as deepening the theoretical models and statistical analyses used, realizing longitudinal studies and proposing intervention strategies that guide future scientific exercises in the area. Keywords: Suicide; suicidal ideation; suicidal intention; Colombia; systematic review. Resumen: El objetivo de la revision fue sintetizar los hallazgos acerca del suicidio en Colombia entre los anos 2004 a 2018. Se incluyeron 88 trabajos en esta revision.  Se destaca que la mayoria de estudios se centran en factores de riesgo como depresion, consumo de sustancias psicoactivas y disfuncion familiar; y solo algunos se interesan en factores protectores, entre los que se destacan la funcionalidad familiar y la alta autoestima; ademas, se encontro que los modelos estadisticos empleados son en su mayoria de tipo descriptivo y los estudios no estan basados en modelos teoricos sobre el suicidio. Finalmente, se proponen algunas lineas de trabajo como la profundizacion de modelos teoricos y analisis estadisticos empleados, la realizacion de estudios longitudinales y proponer estrategias de intervencion, que orienten futuros ejercicios cientificos en el area.Palabras clave: Suicidio; ideacion suicida; intencion suicida; Colombia; revision sistematica.

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Conducta suicida en Colombia: Una revisión sistemática

Objectives To study socioeconomic inequalities in mental health in rural and urban Colombia, a country with a history of internal conflict and large socioeconomic inequalities. Recent survey data are available to study this understudied topic in a middle-income country. Methods Using data from 9656 respondents from the 2015 Colombian Mental Health survey, we investigated the association between lifetime prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders and quality of dwellings and access to public services housing score (HS). We calculated the relative index of inequality (RII) and slope index of inequality (SII) for HS in urban and rural areas, adjusting for potential confounders and mediating factors. Outcomes The lifetime prevalence of anxiety and depression (combined) was 9.6% in urban versus 6.9% in rural areas (p urban 0.96 (95% CI 0.51 to 1.81); RII rural 0.11 (95% CI 0.04 to 0.32)). In rural areas, the prevalence of mental health problems was 12% points lower in persons living in the poorest quality dwellings than in those living in high-quality dwellings (SII −0.12 (95% CI −0.18 to −0.06)). Interestingly, within rural areas, persons living in ‘populated centres’ (small towns, villages) had a higher lifetime prevalence of any mental health disorder (9.8% (95% CI 6.9 to 13.6)) compared with those living in more isolated, dispersed areas (6.0% (95% CI 4.6 to 7.7)). Interpretation In rural Colombia, those living in the poorest houses and in dispersed areas had a lower prevalence of mental health problems. Further understanding of this phenomenon of a seemingly inverse association of prevalence of mental disorders with poverty and/or urbanisation in rural areas is needed. Particularly, considering the progressive urbanisation process in Colombia, it is important to monitor mental health in populations migrating to the cities.

https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/8/6/e019065.full.pdf

Housing index, urbanisation level and lifetime prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders: a cross-sectional analysis of the Colombian national mental health survey.

Youth Participatory Action Research in Urban Public Education: Underrepresented Youth Addressing Social Justice in the United States

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Caracterización del suicidio en Colombia, 2000-2010

Objetivo: caracterizar el riesgo suicida y depresion en internos de una carcel del departamento del Quindio (Colombia). Metodologia: se utilizo una metodologia descriptiva-relacional y un diseno no experimental; se selecciono una muestra de 34 reclusos entre los 18-51 anos de acuerdo a criterios de inclusion y exclusion a quienes se les suministraron los cuestionarios ISO 30 e IDB. Resultados: mas del 75% de los internos presentan riesgo suicida moderado o alto; el 56% reporta sintomatologia depresiva grave y moderada. Se hallo importante correlacion entre estas dos variables. En la sub escala de afrontamiento de la ISO- 30 se encontro una media de 8,81, lo que la ubica con resultados significativos; las medias restantes estan en valores medios. Conclusion: es significativo determinar factores de riesgo en esta poblacion y fortalecer la investigacion en este campo desde un enfoque interdisciplinario, lo cual facilitara la identificacion precoz y prevencion de la conducta suicida.

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Riesgo suicida y depresión en un grupo de internos de una cárcel del quindío (colombia)

RESUMEN Fundamento: la adolescencia es una etapa en la cual gran parte de la poblacion inicia su vida sexual y presenta conductas de riesgo. Objetivo: describir los conocimientos sobre sexualidad en adolescentes de una institucion educativa publica en la ciudad de Armenia, Colombia. Metodos: se utilizo un diseno transversal y una metodologia de tipo cuantitativa-descriptiva. Se diseno y aplico un cuestionario que indaga acerca de los conocimientos sobre fisiologia y anatomia de la reproduccion, actividad sexual, identidad sexual, orientacion sexual, papeles de genero y vinculos afectivos, y una encuesta sobre datos sociodemograficos, con preguntas referentes al inicio de la vida sexual y la educacion recibida al respecto. En total participaron 196 adolescentes que cursaban grado undecimo. El muestreo fue no probabilistico de tipo intencional. Se calcularon medidas de tendencia central, de dispersion y asociaciones a traves de analisis bivariado. Resultados: el 66, 6 % ya habia tenido al menos una relacion sexual. El 81 % de los participantes presento un bajo nivel de conocimientos frente a la sexualidad. Conclusiones: se considera importante elaborar propuestas de intervencion orientadas hacia la promocion de una sexualidad saludable y no solamente hacia la prevencion de conductas sexuales de riesgo. ABSTRACT Background: adolescence is a stage in which a great number of people start their sexual life and have risk conducts. Objective: to describe the knowledge about sexuality of adolescents in a public educational institution in the city of Armenia, Colombia. Methods: a cross-section design and a quantitative-descriptive methodology were used. A questionnaire was designed and applied to inquire about the knowledge about physiology and reproduction anatomy, sexual activity, sexual identity, sexual orientation, gender roles and affectional bonds. A survey about sociodemographic data with questions related to the start of sexual life and the education received in this regard was also designed and applied. The sampling was probabilistic and intentional and 196 adolescents from second year of high school participated. Measures of central tendency, of dispersion and of associations were calculated by means of a bivaried analysis. Results: the 66 % of the adolescents had had at least a sexual encounter. The 81 % of the participants presented a low level of knowledge about sexuality. Conclusions: it is important to create intervention proposals oriented to the promotion of a healthy sexuality, not only towards the prevention of sexual risk conducts.

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Conocimientos sobre sexualidad en adolescentes escolares en la ciudad de Armenia, Colombia

Resumen Este estudio tiene como objetivo identificar indicadores de salud mental positiva en poblacion universitaria de la ciudad de Armenia, Quindio - Colombia. Para esto se utiliza una metodologia cuantitativa-descriptiva y un diseno transversal. Se aplica el Cuestionario de Salud Mental Positiva de Maria Teresa Lluch a 78 estudiantes de psicologia entre 16 y 23 anos, seleccionados aleatoriamente. Los analisis apoyados en la matriz de Vester, medidas de tendencia central y dispersion, arrojan indicadores significativos de Salud Mental Positiva en el 91% de los participantes, lo que demuestra fuertes habilidades en factores como la satisfaccion personal , actitud prosocial , autonomia , resolucion de problemas, autoactualizacion y capacidad de relacion interpersonal. E s de especial interes el puntaje bajo hallado en la subescala de autocontrol, criterio relacionado con el equilibrio emocional; resultados similares se han obtenido en universitarios de diferentes regiones colombianas. Se requieren estudios posteriores que profundicen en el concepto positivo de la salud mental y que fomenten el desarrollo de programas de promocion y prevencion en esta poblacion que a diario se enfrenta a situaciones estresantes. Palabras clave Poblacion universitaria, Psicologia positiva, Salud mental positiva. Abstract. The goal of this study is to identify indicators of positive mental health in university students of Armenia City, Quindio – Colombia. To achieve this, a quantitative-descriptive methodology and a transverse design have been used. The Maria Teresa LLuch’s questionnaire Positive Mental Health has been answered by 78 psychology students aged from 16 to 23, randomly selected. The analysis based on Vester matrix, central tendency measures and dispersion, show significant indicators of Positive Mental Health in 91% of those polled, which confirms strong abilities in issues like personal satisfaction, prosocial attitude, autonomy, problem solving, auto-updating and interpersonal relationships capabilities. It is worthy to note that the low percentage found in the self-control subscale, which is a criterion related to emotional stability; this is similar to other results found among university students in other cities of the country. Further research is needed to deepen on the concept of positive mental health and to promote the development of programs regarding to encouragement and prevention having this specific population as target, because they face stressing situation on a daily basis. Keywords. University students, Positive psychology, Positive mental health. Resume. Cette etude a comme objectif d’identifier des indicateurs de sante mentale positive chez les etudiants de la ville d’Armenia, Quindio-Colombie. Pour obtenir ca on a utilise une methodologie quantitative-descriptive et une conception transversale. On a enquete a 78 etudiants de psychologie, âges de 18 a 23 ans et choisis au hasard, sur le Questionnaire de Sante Mentale Positive de Maria Teresa Llunch. Les analyses basees sur la matrice de Vester , mesures de tendance centrale et de dispersion, nous donnent des indicateurs significatifs de sante mentale positif sur le 91% des enquetes, ce qui nous demontre habiletes pour la satisfaction personnelle, l’attitude prosociale, l’autonomie, la solution de problemes, l’auto actualisation et la capacite de relations interpersonnelles. Les bas resultats trouves dans la sub-echelle d’auto control representent un interet speciale, l’auto control est un critere lie a l’equilibre emotionnelle ; ces resultats sont similaires a ceux des etudiants des diverses regions colombiennes. Il est necessaire de realiser etudes approfondis au sujet du concept de sante mentale positive et qui fomentent le developpement de programmes de promotion et prevention chez les etudiantes universitaires qui toujours affrontent des situations stressantes. Mots-cles. Etudiants universitaires, psychologie positive, sante mentale positive.

https://revistavirtual.ucn.edu.co/index.php/RevistaUCN/article/download/379/714

Características de salud mental positiva en estudiantes de una universidad privada de la ciudad de Armenia - Quindío

Introduction: Suicide is considered a serious public health problem, which claims an important number of lives all over the world. Objective: To characterize suicide in adolescents living in the Quindio Department of Colombia, from 1989 to 2013. Material and methods: An observational descriptive research was conducted, using data from death certificates compiled by the National Administrative Department of Statistics commonly referred to as DANE in the Republic of Colombia. Proportions were calculated for person, time and place variables. Population projections for DANE were used to establish mortality rates.  Results: 158 suicides in adolescents occurred during the time period from 1989-2013 in the Quindio Department.  The 67, 7% of the persons that committed suicide were male, 82,9 of them were single, the 39,9% of them used  hanging as the method of suicide, and the 13,3% of the cases occurred in December.  The suicide rate was 6,7 for every 100,000 inhabitants (9,0 for men, and  4,3 for women).  1999-2003 was the five year’s time that registered the highest rates with 10,0 suicides for every 100,000 adolescents. In municipalities, he highest risk was registered in Quimbaya and Pijao with 30,8 and  23,4 suicides for every 100,000 adolescents, respectively. Conclusions: The highest prevalence of suicide was found in single men from the urban area, at home, in December, and hanging was the most common method used for suicide. In five year times, the highest rates were registered from 1999-2003, period in which an earthquake occurred in the zone.  At a municipal level, the highest rates were found in Quimbaya and Pijao, which suggests the need of a greater intervention and investigation. Keywords: adolescent, Colombia, risk factors, mortality, suicide.

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Deisy Viviana Cardona Duque

Papers

Caracterización del suicidio en Colombia, 2000-2010

Riesgo suicida y depresión en un grupo de internos de una cárcel del quindío (colombia)

Conocimientos sobre sexualidad en adolescentes escolares en la ciudad de Armenia, Colombia

Características de salud mental positiva en estudiantes de una universidad privada de la ciudad de Armenia - Quindío

Caracterización del suicidio en adolescentes del Departamento de Quindío. Colombia, 1989-2013