Les Tentatives De Suicide Vues, En Belgique, Par Le Medecin Generaliste Enquete Epidemiologique Par Un Reseau De Medecins « Vigies »

Abstract

One hundred general practitioners have recorded suicide attempts during one year. According to these data we can estimate the total number of cases in the country at 22,694 per year, which represents 22.8 cases per 10,000 inhabitants per year. Two thirds of the attempts are done by women. The incidence rates are higher between 20 and 40 years of age and for divorcees. With respect to employment status, the highest proportion of attempts was recorded in the group of the unemployed. Regardless of age and sex, drugs are the means most often used. The number of deaths by suicide has been estimated at 3,267 per year for the whole country, or 3.3 per 10,000 inhabitants per year. Mortality rates are higher for men than for women and also in the age group of 70 years or more.