Suicide attempts in Turkey: results of the WHO-EURO Multicentre Study on Suicidal Behaviour.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the rate and method of attempted suicides in a catchment area in Turkey as part of the WHO-EURO Multicentre Study on Suicidal Behaviour.

METHOD

All hospitals in the catchment area were screened to identify suicide attempts for 4 years between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2001.

RESULTS

In the 4-year period, 737 individuals attempted suicide (514 women and 223 men). The mean annual rate per 100,000 was 46.89 for men and 112.89 for women. The parasuicide rate increased by 93.59% between 1998 and 2001. The most frequent method used by both men and women was self-poisoning.

CONCLUSION

Compared with the results from other European research centres, attempted suicide rates in Turkey were relatively low. However, the increase in rates was striking. This upward trend may be related to the intense economic difficulties, increasing unemployment, and rapid social change experienced in Turkey in recent years. The risk groups appeared to be younger and female.