Some perspectives on suicidal behaviour.
OBJECTIVE
To try and specify questions of special relevance for suicidological research.


METHODS
Discussing the merits of questions pertaining to epidemiology and various theories on suicidal behaviour.


RESULTS
Four types of questions are defined: How many persons show suicidal behaviour? Who are they? Why do they do it? and What can we do about it? Answers to the first three questions are required when approaching question four: What can we do about it?


CONCLUSIONS
The complex patterns and backgrounds of suicidal behaviour call for interdisciplinarity and for an increase in both multifactorial and process-related approaches as well as practicable, evidence-based and feasible intervention efforts.
Bille-Brahe
U
U
Centre for Suicidological Research, Odense, Denmark. sui.centre@mail.tele.dk
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention