The Psychology of Gender, Economics, and Homicide on Suicide in Jamaica: Using Time Series data from 2000-2019

Authors

  • Paul Andrew Bourne Department of Institutional Research, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Dennis Brooks Corporate Communication Network, Jamaica Constabulary Force, Kingston, Jamaica, WI.
  • James Fallah Department of Dental Hygiene, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Calvin Campbell Department of Mathematics and Engineering, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Clifton Foster Department of Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Tabitha Muchee Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Caroline McLean Department of Nursing Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.
  • Advella L. Meikle Department of Nursing Northern Caribbean University, Mandeville, Manchester, Jamaica, WI.

Abstract

Introduction: There are approximately 800,000 suicides globally each year, with most cases occurring in low to middle-income countries. An individual commits suicide every 40 seconds.

Methods and Materials: This study employs Durkheim's theory on suicide to explain the macro levels of this phenomenon. The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) provided data for this study.

Results: Over the studied period, there were 1,066 suicides (male, 930; females, 136), seven males committed suicides for every female in Jamaica, the suicide rate lies between 0.38 and 2.97, and on average 53 suicides are recorded on an annual basis (male; 47 suicide; female, 7). A non-linear relationship existed between unemployment rates and suicides in Jamaica. Unemployment beyond 12% per cent becomes a psychological stimulus for suicidal thoughts and acts at the micro level. The findings revealed that the number of suicide is best fitted by a polynomial function (r2=0.7133 or 71.33%). The results show that the correlation between the number of suicide and the number of homicides in Jamaica is a curvilinear function, emphasizing that there are periods where homicides and vice versa directly influence suicides. Based on the scatter points, generally, there seems to be no straightforward linear or curvilinear relationship between the two variables above.

Conclusion: The study concludes the occurrences of suicides in this country continue to be a part of the daunting global count of approximately 800,000 suicides annually. This fact, reported by the World Health Organization, provides a certain level of urgency that all global citizens should share as we address the ongoing impacts of suicide on society.

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Published

2022-09-11

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2022): International Journal of Humanities & Social Science: Insights & Transformations [ISSN: 2581-3587]

Section

Articles