Citation

Polozhny B. Psychiatr. Danub. 2006; 18(Suppl 1): 30.

Affiliation

State Scientific Centre of Social and Forensic Psychiatry named by V.P.Serbsky, Kropotkinsky side-street, 23, 119992 Moscow, Russia. (polozhy@serbsky.ru)

Copyright

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

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16963880

Abstract

The suicidal rate is one of the most objective indicators of mental health of population. Analysis of statistic data of suicidal rate in Russia showed that during the last 15 year this factor has increased 1,5 times and reached the mark of 38-40 per 100000. This is 2,5 times higher than the average suicide rate all over the world and 2 times higher than the "critical" level of WHO. Only in 1995-2005 more then 500 000 people in Russia committed suicides, i.e. circa 56 000 people per year. The aim of this study is to identify the influence of socio-economic and ethno-cultural factors on the prevalence rate of suicides. Medical-statistical method was used based on the governmental statistic data about the number of the completed suicides, socio-economic situation in the regions and ethnic structure of the population in the region. The differences in suicide rate in some regions of Russia reach 121 times. The highest level (70-130 per 100 000) is in the national parts of Siberia and Far East and in the regions with finno-ugric population. It is connected with historical cultural tolerance to suicides and with bad socio-economic situation in these regions. The lowest suicide rate (1-18 per 100 000) is observed in North Caucasus republics and in megapolises - Moscow and St. Petersburg. In North Caucasus republics it is due to the absolute restriction of suicide in the religion of Islam. In Moscow and St. Petersburg by the relatively high (in Russia;s terms) life standards and the prevalence of Slavic nation. Thus, the organization of suicide services in the multinational country that is undergoing the socio-economic changes must be made according to the ethnic structure of population and socio-economic situation in the regions.

Language: en