Abstract

FRONTINI, María Alcira; OLMOS, Ismael; GIRALDEZ, Gonzalo  and  LARA, Fabián. Suicide rates and lithium concentration in tap water in Rocha and Montevideo. First study in Uruguay, period 2019-2020. Rev. Méd. Urug. [online]. 2024, vol.40, n.1, e204.  Epub Mar 01, 2024. ISSN 0303-3295.  https://doi.org/10.29193/rmu.40.1.4.

Suicide is a phenomenon that, in addition to the human losses it involves, has a negative impact on family members and acquaintances, leading to enormous costs in the healthcare system. In Uruguay, the suicide rate has not only experienced a sustained increase, representing a constant concern for authorities, but it also tends to be one of the highest in Latin America, reaching 23.08 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022. Recognizing that suicide is a serious multifactorial phenomenon, several studies have investigated the possible correlation between the presence of lithium in tap water and suicide rates, noting an inverse relationship. This suggests that lithium could potentially be considered protective against suicidal behavior. This study aims to address this correlation in the departments of Rocha and Montevideo, Uruguay. The results obtained are inconclusive. Regarding the concentrations of lithium present in tap water, they are generally lower than those indicated in other studies as protective (30 μg/L). It is necessary to delve deeper into this axis of discussion, as in others, to obtain a more detailed diagnosis of this complex and profound phenomenon.

Keywords : Suicide; Lithium; Drinking wáter; Rocha; Montevideo; Uruguay.

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