Last update:
07-Jul-2004

OBJECTIVE Εpidemiological study of suicide in Greece on a natiowide basis for the years 1980 through 1997, and investigation of possible relationships between suicide and demographic and social parameters.

METHOD The total number of suicide cases recorded in Greece for the period 1980–1997 was 6703, of which 4961 (74%) were males and 1742 (26%) were females. Yearly and mean age- and sex-specific suicide rates (SR) were calculated, as well as SR in relation to the family status and urbanity of the victims. The trends in suicide for the 1980–1997 period were studied and suicide methods were analysed.

RESULTS The mean age-standardized SR were for males 5.87/100,000 and for females 1.82/100,000. Suicide rates were observed to increase in relation to age, especially in males. Statistically significant rising trends were recorded in the SR of males aged 45–54 years. Conversely, female SR presented significantly declining trends in the the age-groups 15–24 years, 75–84 years and in the total group. Regarding family population status, the lowest SR were recorded among the married population. Very high SR were observed among young widowed males aged 25– 34 years. Rural SR were twice as high as urban rates. Suicide methods were mostly violent, especially in males for whom the most common methods were hanging, gunshot wounds and poisoning, while among females the commonest methods were hanging, poisoning and drowning.

CONCLUSIONS Suicide rates recorded in Greece are among the lowest in Europe. The very low suicide rates, the observed trends in suicide and other characteristics of the suicide phenomenon in Greece may be attributed to a synthesis of social and cultural factors, as well as to ongoing changes in the Greek lifestyle.

Key words: Epidemiology, Family status, Methods, Residence, Suicide.