Citation

Kolves K, Sisask M, Värnik A. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 62.

Affiliation

Suicidology Institute, Estonian Centre of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Oie 39, 11615 Tallinn, Estonia. kaikolves@hot.ee.

Copyright

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

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16963955

Abstract

Aims and objectives: Before Estonian independence (1983-1990 in the study) Estonian Russians had the lowest suicide rates compared to Estonians and to Russia. The highest suicide rates among Estonian Russians during the transition period after independence (1991-1998) may have caused by the remarkable changes in their status: from privileged position to the status of immigrants. The purpose of the present study was to compare suicide predicting factors of Estonian Russians and Estonians. Methods: Psychological autopsy study with 427 suicide cases with pair-wise matched controls was preformed. Results: The only variable differing significantly between Russian and Estonian suicidents was substance use pattern. Logistic regression models showed that factors associated with suicide for both nationalities were substance dependence and abuse, being economically inactive and recent family discord. Having no partner, being unemployed and being an abstainer stayed significant for Estonians, while somatic illness, separation and death of a close person for Russians. Conclusions: The predicting factors of suicide were similar among Estonian Russians and Estonians; there were still some differences in the nature of recent life events. A suggestion arose that the highest suicide rate among Estonian Russians during the 1990's could be at least partly attributable to their higher substance consumption.

Language: en