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The Prevalence of Suicidal Behaviors, Attitudes and Associated Social Experiences in an Urban Population
Author(s) -
Ramsay Richard,
Bagley Christopher
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.1985.tb00941.x
Subject(s) - suicide prevention , psychology , psychiatry , harm , suicide attempt , poison control , mental health , population , injury prevention , epidemiology , occupational safety and health , human factors and ergonomics , medicine , clinical psychology , demography , medical emergency , environmental health , social psychology , sociology , pathology
The development of an epidemiological study of mental health, social background factors, suicidal behaviors (suicidal ideas, deliberate self‐harm, and attempted suicide), values concerning suicide, and experience of suicide in others is described. 679 adult respondents in a stratified random sample of residents of a large Canadian city were interviewed. Results indicate a more accepting attitude to suicide than reported in previous studies; considerable experience of suicide in others; and a much higher rate of suicidal ideas and action than has been reported in previous work. Thirteen percent of the sample had made plans for suicide in their lifetime, 6% had deliberately harmed themselves, and a further 4% had attempted suicide in their lifetime. In the past year, 4% had made plans for suicide, and 2% had deliberately harmed themselves or had attempted suicide.