Περίληψη:
Suicide is a universally observed human behavior related to
bio-psychological, social and cultural factors. The aim of the present
study was to examine suicide in Cyprus, an island that has known many
civilizations and cultures. All completed suicide cases in the Christian
population of Cyprus during the years 1988-1999 were included in the
study and they were analyzed according to age, gender, reported reasons
for suicide and suicide methods. The main results indicate that: 1. The
mean age-standardized suicide rate is the lowest in Europe, in males
(3.08/100,000) and also in females (1.05/100,000). 2. Mean suicide rates
increase significantly with age in males only. 3. Female suicide rates
are highest in the 15-24 age group. 4. Statistically significant rising
trends of male and female suicide rates in the all-ages group. 5.
Suicide methods were mostly violent. Among males, the most common
methods were poisoning, firearms-explosives, and hanging, while in
females, jumping, hanging and poisoning. 6. Mental disorders, physical
illness, interpersonal and financial problems were the main reported
reasons for suicide. The epidemiological characteristics of suicide in
Cyprus might be attributed to a combined effect of social and cultural
factors and probably reflect influences from countries to which Cyprus
is ethnically, historically or geographically related. (c) 2005 Elsevier
SAS. All rights reserved.
Συγγραφείς:
Zacharakis, CA
Hadjivassilis, V
Madianos, MG
Papadimitriou,
GN
Stefanis, CN
