Death by suicide in Grampian 1991-1999: comparison with a previous study.
OBJECTIVE
To review the changes in suicide and undetermined death rates in Grampian between 1991-1999 and to make comparisons with a previous study on the same population.


METHODS
All suicide and undetermined deaths in Grampian recorded by the General Register Office for Scotland were included and linked with the psychiatric case records from Grampian Health Board.


RESULTS
The high suicide and undetermined death rates in Grampian are accounted for by the excess of deaths in males. In males there has been a change in the method used to commit suicide with hanging now being the commonest method used. Firearm deaths have reduced dramatically since legislation was introduced in 1997 (RR = 021,95% CI [0.05,0.91). For those with previous psychiatric contact, a greater proportion were drug users than in 1974-1990 (OR = 3.75,95%CI [2.7, 5.2]). A higher percentage of suicides have a history of more than one previous attempt at suicide than in 1974-990. In Grampian there is a lower percentage of inpatient suicide than the rest of Scotland.


CONCLUSIONS
There have been changes in suicide trends in Grampian and these are similar to elsewhere in Scotland Strategies to address this are discussed.
Nicoll
K S
KS
Royal Cornhill Hospital, Cornhill Road, Aberdeen AB25 2ZH. kirsteen.nicol@gpct.Grampian.scot.nhs.uk
McGee
M A
MA
Callender
J S
JS
D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors