Abstract
Background and Objectives : There is a high suicide rate in A district in Gunma Prefecture with an aging and declining population. Subjects and Methods : We selected A distinct as the subject district, as well as 4 other districts as comparison regions. We studied regional differences in suicide rate in terms of the age, gender, suicide cause, occupation of the subjects, their marital status, and people who had lived with the subjects. Results : (1) In comparison with other districts, A distinct had a higher suicide rate among males in their twenties, forties, fifties, and seventies and among females in their seventies, a higher rate of suicides caused by economic problem or sexual relations, a higher suicide rate among working males, a high rate of divorce or being unmarried in males in their forties and fifties, and a high rate of bereavement in females aged seventy years or older. (2) In village areas, suicide age was higher than that in A district, suicide age among females was higher than that among males. Conclusion : There are some factors contributing to a high suicide rate in A district and its villages. Suicide prevention measures in these areas should be implemented taking these factors into consideration.
