[Suicides in Bjelovar-Bilogora County in the war period, pre-war and post-war period, and the period of the economic expansion and recession].

In the sample of 1134 suicides committed in the period 1988-2011 in Bjelovar-Bilogora County, we have analyzed the number of suicides, methods, scene and time of committing, gender, age and probable motives, comparing results from the Homeland war period, pre-war and post-war period, and the period of the economic expansion and recession. The study results show increase in the suicide rate in wartime and stagnation in the period of the recession. Age-standardized suicide rates for all ages are higher than the Croatian average. Men commit suicides more than women, and 3.53% of the total number of suicides are committed by minors. The most frequent method of performing suicide was by hanging, most suicides were committed in the morning hours, in the spring months, in closed buildings (houses, outbuildings), the most probable motive for suicide is a disease. Seen by periods, suicide rate is the highest in the wartime, with an increase in the percentage of suicides committed by firearms and explosives, and outdoor committed suicides. During the period of the expansion and the recession, we note a shift of suicides toward people in their fifties. The ratio of male and female suicides is the highest in the periods of crisis.