Citation

Bazin N, Drunat O, Fremont P, Lutzler P, Blanc M, Barbier C. Revue de Geriatrie 2000; 25(10): 733-742.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study describes completed suicides during one year (1997), in the region with the highest suicide rate in France and examines the influence of four factors: aging, density of population (rural/urban) and primary care practices characterised by the number of practitioners and the number of psychiatrists working in each district. 225 completed suicides were recorded (suicide rate = 20,3 / 100 000) which analysis confirmed that 74 % of this population was male. Globaly, there was an average age of 50,7 years, 57 % were living alone and 57 % of the suicides were committed at home. The study found that suicide rates in late life were higher in older than any other point in the life course and elderly people showed a preference for more violent methods compared with the suicides of 60 age and younger. Suicide rates differed greatly in the 43 districts of the region. No significant correlation was found between the suicide rate and the factors examined (density of population, density of practitioners and psychiatrists). Than, suicide seems not to be more frequent in country than in cities and the number of practitioners does not seem to be sufficient to prevent suicide.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; aging; article; comparative study; Elderly; Epidémiology; female; France; human; major clinical study; male; medical service; Primary care practices; primary medical care; rural area; Rural/Urban; suicide; Suicide; urban area; violence