THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AS SEEN IN THE CASUALTY DEPARTMENT, ALFRED HOSPITAL, MELBOURNE

Abstract

Over the last three or four years, a sharp increase has occurred in the numbers of patients presenting at the casualty department, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, after suicidal acts. The increases are a continuation of a trend evident over at least 12 years, are present to an equal degree in both sexes, and are most marked in the 15 to 24 years age groups. Presentation of women patients continues to be more than twice as frequent as of men patients, and is also concentrated around weekends. The vast majority of such acts are the taking of overdoses of drugs, usually prescribed drugs recently obtained by patients from their own medical practitioners. The act is considered to be impulsive in nature in about two‐thirds of cases, and to be precipitated by situations of interpersonal conflict in about half. Less than a half of a group who were interviewed in depth admitted having sought help with their difficulties in discussion with other people. Approximately half had experienced significant parental deprivation in childhood. Many admitted previous suicidal acts. The findings of the current studies indicate a problem of social health of some magnitude, which is not being adequately dealt with by existing health and welfare services. Some needs pointed up are for the development of befriending services to a much greater extent than at present, and community education in the field of human relations, especially in regard to the changing relationships which so dominate the decade from 15 to 25 years. The question of the need for enforced restrictions on the availability of sedative, tranquillizer and antidepressant drugs is also raised.