Aim:
It is an undeniable fact that the social-economic crises are huge effect on the suicide attempt rates. In this study we investigate the effect of great economic crises on the suicide attempt rates.
Methods:
The severe economic crisis on February 28th, 2001 in Turkey affected economic status, and lived some socially important problem. This study was a retrospective study. The charts of all patients identified from the ED patient flow ledger were requested from the medical archives. Suicide attempt patients presenting to the Karadeniz Technical University Hospital Emergency Department (ED) -Trabzon on March 1st, 2000 - February 28th, 2001 (period I) and March 1st, 2001- February 28th, 2002 (period II) was compared between these two periods.
Result:
Two hundred and one (2.2%) patients, who attempted to commit suicide, applied to the ED in period I, whereas 248 (2.8%) patients in period II.There was significantly different between two period (chi-square=7.57, df=l, p=0.006). Percent of men was high in period 2 than in period 1 as significantly (chi-square=4.04, df=l, p=0.044). The examination of this result shows that the attempt of suicide among the males significantly increased after the crisis.
Conclusion:
Economic crisis seemed for suicide attempt, especially in men. It is necessary to take this result into account in solving the problems of the economic crises.
Keywords: Economic crisis, suicide attempt, men, Turkey