Geographic distribution of suicide and railway suicide in Belgium, 2008–2013: a principal component analysis

Abstract

This study investigated the geographic distribution of suicide and railway suicide in Belgium over 2008--2013 on local (i.e., district or arrondissement) level. There were differences in the regional distribution of suicide and railway suicides in Belgium over the study period. Principal component analysis identified three groups of correlations among population variables and socio-economic indicators, such as population density, unemployment, and age group distribution, on two components that helped explaining the variance of railway suicide at a local (arrondissement) level. This information is of particular importance to prevent suicides in high-risk areas on the Belgian railway network.

Keywords:

• Belgium
• geographic distribution
• hotspots
• principal component analysis
• railway
• suicide

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. Suburbs are understood as surrounding arrondissement of the city centre arrondissement of Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent.