The annual suicide rate in South Korea is the highest among the developed countries.
Paraquat is a highly lethal
herbicide, commonly used in South Korea as a means for suicide. We have studied the effect of the 2011
paraquat prohibition on the national suicide rate and method of suicide in South Korea. We obtained the monthly suicide rate from 2005 to 2013 in South Korea. In our analyses, we adjusted for the effects of celebrity suicides, and economic, meteorological, and seasonal factors on suicide rate. We employed change point analysis to determine the effect of
paraquat prohibition on suicide rate over time, and the results were verified by structural change analysis, an alternative statistical method. After the
paraquat prohibition period in South Korea, there was a significant reduction in the total suicide rate and suicide rate by
poisoning with
herbicides or fungicides in all age groups and in both genders. The estimated suicide rates during this period decreased by 10.0% and 46.1% for total suicides and suicides by
poisoning of
herbicides or fungicides, respectively. In addition, method substitution effect of
paraquat prohibition was found in suicide by
poisoning by
carbon monoxide, which did not exceed the reduction in the suicide rate of
poisoning with
herbicides or fungicides. In South Korea,
paraquat prohibition led to a lower rate of suicide by
paraquat poisoning, as well as a reduction in the overall suicide rate.
Paraquat prohibition should be considered as a national suicide prevention strategy in developing and developed countries alongside careful observation for method substitution effects.