Suicidal mortality in the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous district (West Siberia): risk factors and prevention strategies

The suicide rate is an integral indicator that largely reflects the social and economic well-being of the territory. For individual regions, geoclimatic factors can also be of great importance, often determining the formation of special lifestyles, work and rest regimes, requirements for economic forms and many other categories that can often potentiate the development of emotional disorders, alcohol abuse, and the formation of suicidal behavior. The aim of the study was to assess the key socio-economic, medical and other indicators of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District (West Siberia) in association with the suicide mortality rate, and to develop suicide prevention strategies. Material and methods. Federal statistics data on individual socio-economic, medical and other indicators of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District in 2010 and 2023 were used. Results. In recent years, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District has demonstrated positive dynamics in many socio-economic indicators and is among the leading regions in the Russian Federation. However, suicide mortality rates exceed the national average (in 2023, in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District – 12.4, in Russia – 7.8 per 100,000 population), with a recorded slowdown in the decline in recent years. Suicide risk factors may include family dysfunction with a higher divorce rate (in 2023, in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District – 795, in the Russian Federation – 723 per 1,000 marriages), excess alcohol consumption (in 2023, in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District – 9.7, in the Russian Federation – 8.6 liters of ethanol per capita), deficiencies in the organization of leisure time for the population, and housing conditions. These issues require study, analysis and solutions. Research that studies the influence of environmental factors, including those caused by weather, geoclimatic changes, solar activity, daylight hours and others, available for registration in various population groups of a given territory, may be promising. Conclusions. To improve the situation and solve the problem, multilateral coordinated work of the regional health care system, social services, improvement of methods of work in the economic, social sphere and youth policy is required. The region needs to develop a territorial prevention program with the involvement of all interested departments and funds.