Citation

Razvodovsky YE. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 145.

Affiliation

Grodno State Medical University, Gorkogo str. 80, 230015 Grodno, Belarus. (razvodovsky@grsmu.by)

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Facultas Universitatis Studiorum Zagrabiensis - Danube Symposion of Psychiatry)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16964144

Abstract

The increasing suicide rate in contemporary society determines the study of this phenomenon as a way to develop prevention strategies. The aim of this research is to study the peculiarities of suicidal behaviour in the Belarus population. The information about time and suicidal style was obtained from the medical death certificates. According to the data gained the peak of suicidal activity among men and women is at the age of 40-60 years. The distribution of various types of violent deaths over the seasons seems to be interesting. The highest rate of suicides is observed in May. Generally the suicide rate increases in summer and decreases in winter. The distribution of suicides over the days of the week is not equal. The suicide rate decreases on Saturday with further growth on Sunday and Monday to 45%. The increase of suicidal activity on Sunday can to some extend be explained by the "holiday syndrome". The high suicide rate on Monday does not fit this theory. It would be more logical to explain this difference in suicide distribution by the different style in alcohol drinking during a week - the most alcohol is consumed on weekends. The fact that peak of acute alcoholic intoxication also falls on the end of a week can prove this theory. Low suicide rate on Saturday and high rate on Sunday and Monday means that alcohol suicide is frequently committed not during the drinking bout (that usually takes place on Saturday) but in the abstinency period. In 98% cases men commit suicide by hanging. Falling and shooting in 0,8%, poisoning in 0,4%. Women commit suicide by hanging in 93%, 5,6% poisoning, 1,4% falling. In 60% of suicide alcohol was found in the blood. The results of this study show the importance of alcohol as a factor in the etiology of suicide.

Language: en