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Suicide by paraquat poisoning in Taiwan and potential prevention strategies

2020 Standard Research Grant

Amount Awarded: $99,921

Focus Area: Community Intervention Studies

Shu-Sen Chang, M.D., Ph.D.

Shu-Sen Chang, M.D., Ph.D.

National Taiwan University (Taiwan)

Inside the Research

Pesticide ingestion accounts for one-fifth of global suicides. Paraquat, a weed killer that is highly lethal when ingested and accounts for about 200 suicide deaths each year in Taiwan, was banned in February 2020. By studying the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of such a ban on reducing suicide, lessons can be learned to inform strategies for reducing pesticide suicide, as well as suicide by other highly lethal means.

Key Findings

  • In 2018, Taiwan banned their most lethal method
    of suicide.
  • By 2019, suicides by that specific method dropped
    by 58%.
  • No increase in suicide by other means was seen, indicating that people did shift to use other methods.
  • Limiting access to lethal means saved lives.
  • Tu, C. Y., Yen, T. H., Chang, C. M., Chen, H. Y., Yen, Y. C., Guo, M. C., Lu, T. H., Wu, C. S., Chen, I. M., Cheng, H. C., Huang, W. L., Chen, C. C., Eddleston, M., & Chang, S. S. (2022). Characteristics and psychopathology of 1,086 patients who self-poisoned using pesticides in Taiwan (2012–2019): A comparison across pesticide groups. Journal of Affective Disorders, 300, 17–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.058
  • Chang, S. S., Lin, C. Y., Lee, M. B., Shen, L. J., Gunnell, D., & Eddleston, M. (2021). The early impact of paraquat ban on suicide in Taiwan. Clinical Toxicology, 60(1), 131–135. https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2021.1937642
  1. Tu, C. Y., Yen, T. H., Chang, C. M., Chen, H. Y., Yen, Y. C., Guo, M. C., Lu, T. H., Wu, C. S., Chen, I. M., Cheng, H. C., Huang, W. L., Chen, C. C., Eddleston, M., & Chang, S. S. (2022). Characteristics and psychopathology of 1,086 patients who self-poisoned using pesticides in Taiwan (2012–2019): A comparison across pesticide groups. Journal of Affective Disorders, 300, 17–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.058
  2. Chang, S. S., Lin, C. Y., Lee, M. B., Shen, L. J., Gunnell, D., & Eddleston, M. (2021). The early impact of paraquat ban on suicide in Taiwan. Clinical Toxicology, 60(1), 131–135. https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2021.1937642