Analysis of suicide deaths in a 15-year period in Eskisehir, western Anatolia, Turkey and the determination of risk factors.
OBJECTIVE
It is estimated that every year 1 million people die all around the world due to suicide. The average rate of suicide in the world is reported as 16/100,000. In this study, we aimed to evaluate and discuss the suicide cases in our city Eskisehir that is located in western Anatolia.


METHODS
This is a retrospective study covering the period 1997-2011.


METHODS
All deaths in Eskisehir caused due to the consumption of forensic medicines in a 15-year period between 1997 and 2011 were evaluated retrospectively. A total of 553 cases were determined to be suicidal following both forensic and criminal investigations, and were included in the study. Furthermore, death examination and autopsy reports were investigated, and judicial investigation records were also taken into account.


RESULTS
In this period, the average rate of suicide in our city was determined as 5.1/100,000 of which 71.4% of the cases were male. It was determined that the suicides most commonly occurred between the ages of 19 and 29 (32.4%, n=179). The most commonly encountered suicide method was hanging (60.9%, n=337).


CONCLUSIONS
It was ascertained that the suicide rate in our city was lower than the average rate in the world, but it was higher than the average rate in Turkey. Unemployment was determined as the most common risk factor in our study. A follow-up should be provided for people with a history of attempting to commit suicide or with a tendency to committing suicide due to a psychological disorder.
Dr. Kenan Karbeyaz, Social Medicine, Public Health, Geriatrics,, Council of Forensic Medicine, Eskisehir Branch Manager, Eskisehir Adalet Sarayi Adli Tip Sube Muduriugu, Eskisehir 26100 Turkey, T: +90-505-223-0885, F: +90-222-240-71119, drkenankarbeyaz@hotmail.com.
Kenan
K
Karbeyaz
Harun
H
Akkaya
Yasemin
Y
Balci
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001237:Asphyxia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult