title: Temporal and spatial patterns of suicides in Stockholm's subway stations.
abstract: This paper investigates the potential temporal and spatial variations of suicides in subway stations in Stockholm, Sweden. The study also assesses whether the variation in suicide rates is related to the station environments by controlling for each station's location and a number of contextual factors using regression models and geographical information systems (GIS). Data on accidents are used as references for the analysis of suicides. Findings show that suicides tend to occur during the day and in the spring. They are concentrated in the main transportation hubs but, interestingly, during off-peak hours. However, the highest rates of suicides per passenger are found in Stockholm's subway stations located in the Southern outskirts. More than half of the variation in suicide rates is associated with stations that have walls between the two sides of the platform but still allow some visibility from passers-by. The surrounding environment and socioeconomic context show little effect on suicide rates, but stations embedded in areas with high drug-related crime rates tend to show higher suicide rates.
authors.affiliation: Housing and Safety Research Group at CEFIN, School of Architecture and the Built Environment, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Drottning Kristinas väg 30, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: acui@kth.se.
authors.forename: Adriaan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uittenbogaard
authors.affiliation: Housing and Safety Research Group at CEFIN, School of Architecture and the Built Environment, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Drottning Kristinas väg 30, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Vania
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ceccato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003415:Crime / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004779:Environment Design; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011890:Railroads / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012621:Seasons; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000401:mortality; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D013548:Sweden; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
keywords: GIS; Lethal accidents; Metro; Public transport systems; Sweden; Underground