Analysis of mortality from suicide in the Altai Republic, Russia, for the period of 1990-2019

Abstract

Introduction The Altai Republic (AR) is a national republic of the Russian Federation (RF), where the indigenous people – Altaians live, and where a high death rate from suicide is recorded. Objectives To analyze the dynamics of mortality from suicide in the AR for the period from 1990 to 2019. Methods Data on mortality of the population were obtained from the Russian databases of demographic indicators. The data were analyzed in terms of indicators standardized per 100,000 population. Results In the AR, as well as in the RF as a whole, there has been an increase in the level of suicide since 1990, but in Altai it lasted for a longer period of time – for 13 years. Throughout the entire period, the suicide rates in the AR have consistently exceeded the all-Russian indicators by 1.5-3 times, and by 2019 the gap in indicators has doubled compared to 1990. The curve of mortality from suicide in the AR has a fluctuating character with spontaneous peaks, in contrast to the curve in the RF that has the form of a “plateau”. Conclusions In the AR, the mortality rate from suicide consistently exceeds the all-Russian indicators, by 2019 the gap in indicators has doubled. The mortality curve is fluctuating, which we associate with clustering of suicides. This phenomenon requires further study. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Keywords

• indigenous peoples
• Altai Republic
• Suicide
• Epidemiology