[About epidemiology of suicidal behavior: an investigation in the health-service district of Brixen].

OBJECTIVE

Aim of this investigation is to find out how many parasuicids as well as suicides are commited and which epidemiological characteristics (sex, age, substance addictions, relationships, job, life-events and suicide attempts in past) show people who commit suicide, and people who commiting parasuicide. After that we try to find variables predicting a suicide or variables what show a vulnerability to commit suicide.

METHODS

Clinicans assess patients who commit parasuicide by the WHO-Parasuicide-Monitoring-Questionnaire and suicide victims by interview with the bereaved. Afterwards, data are assimilated and aggregated.

RESULTS

In this period a mean of 37 (SD = 7.78) parasuicides and 6.32 (SD = 3.79) suicides happened yearly. The sample shows different characteristics in age, sex, life-events in the run-up to the action, job situation and parasuicide(s) in past. No differences were found between relationship and substance abuse/addiction and regarding both types of suicidal behavior.

CONCLUSION

The incidence concerning suicide is slightly lower; the incidence with regard to parasuicide is lower than in other samples. Demographic variables show that people commiting suicide differ from those who commit parasuicide.