Konstantinos N Fountoulakis1, Christos Savopoulos2, Martha Apostolopoulou3, Roxani Dampali4, Eleni Zaggelidou5, Eleni Karlafti6, Ilias Fountoukidis7, Pavlos Kountis8, Vasilis Limenopoulos9, Eustratios Plomaritis10, Pavlos Theodorakis11, Apostolos I Hatzitolios12. 1. 3rd Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: kfount@med.auth.gr. 2. 1st Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Aristotle University, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: chrisavop@hotmail.com. 3. Internal Medicine Department, Agios Pavlos Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: marthaapost@hotmail.com. 4. Achladochori Prefectural Outpatient Clinic, Serres County, Greece. Electronic address: rdampali@hotmail.com. 5. Forensic Service of Thessaloniki, Ministry of Justice, Thessaloniki, Greece. 6. 1st Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: linakarlafti@hotmail.com. 7. Internal Medicine Department, Agios Pavlos Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: iliasfount@gmail.com. 8. Internal Medicine Department, "G. Gennimatas" Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: pkountis@windowslive.com. 9. Department of Internal Medicine, "G. Gennimatas" Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: klim35@otenet.gr. 10. Department of Internal Medicine, Agios Pavlos Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. 11. WHO National Counterpart for Mental Health, Greece. Electronic address: theodorakispavlos@gmail.com. 12. 1st Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Aristotle University, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: axatzito@med.auth.gr.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Recently there was a debate concerning the relationship between the economic crisis and an increase in attempted and completed suicides in Europe and especially in Greece. The aim of the current study was to calculate the rates of attempted and completed suicide per year in the county of Thessaloniki, Macedonia, northern Greece, for the years 2000-12, and to investigate their relationship with unemployment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The archive of the Emergency Outpatient Units of three hospitals was investigated and the results were projected to the county population. Data from the Hellenic statistics authority concerning regional general population and suicides and unemployment were used. RESULTS: The rate of attempted suicides was 16.69-40.34 per 10(5) inhabitants for males and 41.43-110.82 for females. Medication was the preferred method for 95.93%. The completed suicide rates varied from 3.62 to 5.47 for males and from 0.19 to 1.95 per 10(5) inhabitants for females. The male attempt rate correlated negatively with regional male unemployment (-0.63). For females the respected value was similar (-0.72). Concerning competed suicide rates, the respected values were 0.34 and 0.65. The attempt was repeated by 15.34%; almost half-repeated within the same year and 75% within two years. The female to male ratio varied significantly across years with 2:1 (more females) being the probable value for attempts and 1:3.6 (more males) for completed suicides. CONCLUSION: This is the first study from Greece reporting rates on the basis of hospital archives. Attempt and suicide rates are low in Greece. Attempts are negatively and suicides are positively correlated with unemployment.
INTRODUCTION: Recently there was a debate concerning the relationship between the economic crisis and an increase in attempted and completed suicides in Europe and especially in Greece. The aim of the current study was to calculate the rates of attempted and completed suicide per year in the county of Thessaloniki, Macedonia, northern Greece, for the years 2000-12, and to investigate their relationship with unemployment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The archive of the Emergency Outpatient Units of three hospitals was investigated and the results were projected to the county population. Data from the Hellenic statistics authority concerning regional general population and suicides and unemployment were used. RESULTS: The rate of attempted suicides was 16.69-40.34 per 10(5) inhabitants for males and 41.43-110.82 for females. Medication was the preferred method for 95.93%. The completed suicide rates varied from 3.62 to 5.47 for males and from 0.19 to 1.95 per 10(5) inhabitants for females. The male attempt rate correlated negatively with regional male unemployment (-0.63). For females the respected value was similar (-0.72). Concerning competed suicide rates, the respected values were 0.34 and 0.65. The attempt was repeated by 15.34%; almost half-repeated within the same year and 75% within two years. The female to male ratio varied significantly across years with 2:1 (more females) being the probable value for attempts and 1:3.6 (more males) for completed suicides. CONCLUSION: This is the first study from Greece reporting rates on the basis of hospital archives. Attempt and suicide rates are low in Greece. Attempts are negatively and suicides are positively correlated with unemployment.
Authors: Mehdi Ben Khelil; Meriem Gharbaoui; Fethia Farhani; Malek Zaafrane; Hana Harzallah; Mohamed Allouche; Mongi Zhioua; Moncef Hamdoun Journal: Int J Public Health Date: 2016-05-18 Impact factor: 3.380
Authors: Mark Olfson; Carlos Blanco; Melanie Wall; Shang-Min Liu; Tulshi D Saha; Roger P Pickering; Bridget F Grant Journal: JAMA Psychiatry Date: 2017-11-01 Impact factor: 21.596