Health Inequities in Manitoba: Is the Socioeconomic Gap

Health Inequities in Manitoba: Is the Socioeconomic Gap in Health Widening or Narrowing Over Time?
Suicide Deaths and Suicide Attempts
Definition
Suicide is the act of intentionally killing oneself. Suicide attempt, also known as “self–inflicted injury” or
para–suicide, does not result in death. The three–year prevalence of suicide or suicide attempts is the
rate per 1,000 of the population age 10 or older who attempted or completed suicide at least once in a
three–year period. The most recent event (suicide or suicide attempt) in each calendar year is counted,
adjusted by age at the time of the event. The total number of events over each three–year period is used
as the numerator. The denominator is the December 31 population age 10 or older summed over each
three–year period.
The definition of suicide deaths and suicide attempts can be found in the Glossary.
Time Period Three–year period prevalence per 1,000
T1: 1984–1986 0.57
T2: 1987–1989 0.63
T3: 1990–1992 0.64
T4: 1993–1995 0.64
T5: 1996–1998 0.64
T6: 1999–2001 0.56
T7: 2002–2004 0.57
T8: 2005–2007 0.71
Key Findings: Suicide Deaths and Suicide Attempts
Manitoba overall rates:
• From the first time period T1 (1984–1986) to the last time period T8 (2005–2007), the prevalence of
suicide deaths and suicide attempts rose from 0.57 to 0.71 per 1,000 Manitoba residents aged 10 and
older. The increase was greatest in T8 compared to the previous time periods.
Rates by neighbourhood income quintile over time:
Rural:
• Comparing T1 to T8, the prevalence of suicide deaths and suicide attempts increased for R1, R3, and
R4 and decreased for R2 and R5; the increase in R1 was the most dramatic, showing a steady increase
across the study period.
• The disparity between R1 and R5 increased substantially. The rate ratio of R1 compared to R5 was
2.01 in the first time period and 5.01 in the last time period, a statistically significant increase of
149%. The absolute difference gap in prevalence of suicide deaths and suicide attempts comparing
R1 to R5 also statistically significantly increased by 181% over time, from 0.55 more persons per 1,000
residents completing or attempting suicide in the first time period (T1) to 1.53 more persons per
1,000 residents completing or attempting suicide in the last time period (T8).
Manitoba Centre for Health Policy 155