An Exploratory Study on Spatiotemporal Clustering of Suicide in Korean Adolescents

Abstract Background This study aimed to determine the existence of spatiotemporal clustering in adolescent suicides in Korea and to identify any differences between clustered and non-clustered suicide cases using novel statistical methods. Methods From 2016 to 2020, the dates and locations, including specific addresses from which the latitude and longitude of all student suicides (aged 9–18 years) in Korea were obtained through Student Suicide Reports. Sociodemographic characteristics of the adolescents who died by suicide were collected, and the individual characteristics of each student who died by suicide were reported by teachers using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) analysis was used to assess the clustering of suicides. Results We identified 23 clusters through the data analysis of 652 adolescent suicides using DBSCAN. By comparing the size of each cluster, we identified 63 (9.7%) spatiotemporally clustered suicides among adolescents, and the temporal range of these clusters was 7–59 days. The suicide cluster group had a lower economic status than the non-clustered group. There were no significant differences in other characteristics between the two groups. Conclusions This study attempts to define the spatiotemporal clustering of suicides using a novel analytical method. Although clustering has been identified in adolescent suicides in Korea, the specificity of clustered suicides is limited. An enhanced understanding of the underlying mechanisms driving clustered suicides among adolescents has the potential to contribute to adolescent suicide prevention efforts.