Suicide in Slovenia: lessons for cross-cultural psychiatry

In this paper an overview of cross-cultural differences in suicide rates ill Europe is provided and possible factors that may il influence these differences are discussed. Some of these factors were tested in a study of completed suicides in Slovenia as an example of a high suicide rate country Specific suicide rates and/or trends were obtained for the population as a whole, both sexes, different age groups, ethnic nationality, marital status education attainment, weekly and regional distribution of suicide. It was found that the average suicide rate for the whole population in a decade 1985-1994 was 31 per 100, 000 per year. Surprisingly, the suicide rate remained stable throughout the decade, which was characterized by significant political and socio-economic changes. The ratio of the overall male to female rare was about 3:1. This ratio was higher in both widowed and divorced groups, and was the lowest in the highly Educated group. Overall, groups at higher suicide risk were older, male, divorced widowed and people without formal education. The Slovenes were at a higher risk of committing suicide than other nationality groups in Slovenes. As regards to the method of suicide, hanging predominated in an subgroups. This method was in great contrast to those used in other countries. These trends are discussed in relation to other ethnic groups.