Fatality of suicide attempts in Amsterdam 1996-2005.
BACKGROUND
According to recent figures, Amsterdam is the municipality with the highest absolute number of suicides and the second highest suicide rate in the Netherlands.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to identify time trends and demographic differences in the occurrence of nonfatal suicide attempts versus suicides.


METHODS
We used registrations of forensic physicians and ambulance services of the Municipal Health Service of Amsterdam to study 1,004 suicides and 6,166 nonfatal attempts occurring in Amsterdam over the period 1996-2005.


RESULTS
The number of nonfatal attempts declined from 1996 to 2005, but the number of completed suicides remained relatively stable. Although case fatality was strongly associated with method used, we also found higher case fatalities for men and older people independent of method.


CONCLUSIONS
The case fatality results suggest differences in motive among different demographic groups: possibly the wish to die is stronger among men and elderly. This finding had implications for the success to be expected from different preventive measures.
Jansen
Evertjan
E
Municipal Health Service, Department of Epidemiology, Documentation and Health Promotion, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Buster
Marcel C A
MC
Zuur
Annemarie L
AL
Das
Cees
C
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000552:Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention