Murat Akbaba , Yusuf Atan , Ferhat Turgut Tunçez , Erkan Saruhan , Hikmet Ergin Dülger

Abstract

Suicide is an important public health issue. In this study, we aimed to review suicide attempt cases by applying a 20-item survey to cases where suicide was attempted and a 15-item survey to the individuals in the control group. After obtaining the required approvals, 200 attempted suicide cases were admitted to the ER between 14.12.2015 and 31.07.2016, and a control group consisting of 198 people was included in the study. Data obtained from the surveys were analyzed using the SPSS program. 132 (66%) of the cases that had attempted suicide were female and 68 (34%) male. The most common age group among those who had attempted suicide was the 12-24 age group with 108 cases (54%). The monthly income, education level, and parental education level of those who had attempted suicide were lower than those in the control group. Approximately two-thirds of the cases were not economically independent, approximately 60% were unmarried, 22% had a fragmented or unstable family environment, more than half smoked or drank alcohol, one-quarter had a history of repeated suicide attempts, 27% had been diagnosed with a psychiatric disease, 32% were using psychiatric drugs and 18% (36 people) had a family history of suicide attempts. Family issues were the reasons most commonly adduced for attempted suicide. The most commonly preferred suicide method (86.5% - 173 individuals) was medication overdose. Psycho-sociodemographic profile, reasons for the attempted suicide, and risk factors for suicide have been set out in this study.