Hot Weather and Suicide Deaths among Older Adults in Hong Kong, 1976–2014: A Retrospective Study

Pui Hing Chau, Paul Siu Fai Yip, Eric Ho Yin Lau, Yee Ting Ip, Frances Yik Wa Law, Rainbow Tin Hung Ho, Angela Yee Man Leung, Janet Yuen Ha Wong and Jean Woo
Additional contact information
Pui Hing Chau: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Paul Siu Fai Yip: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Eric Ho Yin Lau: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Yee Ting Ip: The Duchess of Kent Children’s Hospital at Sandy Bay, Hong Kong, China
Frances Yik Wa Law: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Rainbow Tin Hung Ho: Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Angela Yee Man Leung: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Janet Yuen Ha Wong: School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Jean Woo: Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-16

Abstract: Findings of the association between hot weather and suicide in a subtropical city such as Hong Kong are inconsistent. This study aimed to revisit the association by identifying meteorological risk factors for older-adult suicides in Hong Kong using a time-series approach. A retrospective study was conducted on older-adult (aged ≥65) suicide deaths in Hong Kong from 1976 to 2014. Suicides were classified into those involving violent methods and those involving nonviolent methods. Meteorological data, including ambient temperature, were retrieved. Transfer function time-series models were fitted. In total, 7314 older-adult suicide deaths involving violent methods and 630 involving nonviolent methods were recorded. For violent-method suicides, a monthly average daily minimum ambient temperature was determined to best predict the monthly rate, and a daily maximum ambient temperature of 30.3 °C was considered the threshold. For suicide deaths involving nonviolent methods, the number of days in a month for which the daily maximum ambient temperature exceeded 32.7 °C could best predict the monthly rate. Higher ambient temperature was associated with more older-adult suicide deaths, both from violent and nonviolent methods. Weather-focused preventive measures for older-adult suicides are necessary, such as the provision of more public air-conditioned areas where older adults can shelter from extreme hot weather.

Keywords: Suicide; temperature; weather; older adults; Hong Kong (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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