Citation

Kocmur M, Dernovsek MZ. Int. J. Soc. Psychiatry 2003; 49(1): 8-16.

Affiliation

University Psychiatric Hospital, Ljubljana-Polje, Slovenia. marga.kocmur@psih-klinika.si

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12793511

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Slovenia has been experiencing a very high suicide rate (30 per 10,000 inhabitants per year or higher) and there are no data on public attitudes towards suicide in Slovenia. AIMS: To identify public attitudes towards suicide in order to expand the basis for prevention. METHODS: A Suicide Attitudes Questionnaire (SUIATT) was sent to a representative sample of adult Slovenian citizens. RESULTS: Some 5.2% of respondents had at least one previous suicidal attempt and 21.6% reported suicidal ideation (SI). More respondents with SI than respondents without SI reported: 1) the suicidal act as deliberated, 2) less importance attached to the mental illness in suicidal behaviour, 3) that a person has the right to commit suicide, and 4) the suicidal act as an act of cowardice. CONCLUSIONS: Results do not allow a general statement whether attitudes towards suicide are permissive or restrictive. However, in the subgroup of respondents with SI we found a tendency towards permissiveness regarding suicide.

Language: en