Citation

Vera-Varela C, Barbería E, Giner L, Xifró A, Suelves JM, Guija J. Rev. Esp. Med. Legal 2019; 45(2): 67-72.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Madrid Asociacion Nacional de Medicos Forenses, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.reml.2019.03.001

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Suicide is an important public health problem. Suicide mortality, and the quality and reliability of suicide statistics are key points in monitoring and preventing suicidal behaviours. The objective of this paper is to review the contribution of forensic medicine to suicidal behaviour, to underline the importance of forensic sources to investigate risk factors, and to highlight the role of Institutes of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences in suicide prevention programmes. We describe the collaboration between Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences and specialists in the fields of psychiatry and public health. This collaborative work has facilitated the development of an integrative model in the investigation of suicidal behaviour allowing more precise suicide mortality data, the standardisation of research on suicide, and the development of suicide prevention strategies to reduce a preventable cause of death. © 2019 Asociación Nacional de Médicos Forenses

Language: en

Keywords

Suicide; Autopsy; Mortality; Psychiatry; Public health; Forensic medicine; Vital statistics