Ten-year Epidemiological Study on Suicide Attempts in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

The aim of our study was to provide basic epidemiological data on suicide attempts that resulted in admission to the University Clinic of Toxicology and Emergency Medicine in Skopje during a 10-year-period (1999-2008). There is a lack of published information regarding suicide attempts in the Republic of Macedonia. Methods: Participants were 1683 patients from the territory of Skopje, who attempted suicides and who were hospitalized in the University Clinic of Toxicology and Emergency Medicine in School of Medicine, Skopje during the period of ten years (1999-2008). The following variables were included in the analysis: age, gender, religion, method of suicide attempt and admission date. The results were analyzed with the Statistic for Windows program, release 7.0. Results: A significantly higher number of suicide attempts were registered in females than in males from the territory of Skopje during the period of 1999-2008. Men who attempted suicide were older than women. Women of Christian religion affiliation attempted suicide more frequently than women of Muslim religion. The greatest number of attempts was during the summer season. The most common method of suicide attempt was intoxication with medications. Conclusions: Our study has shown that attempted suicide rate has had a stable trend over the last decade. It has also shown female predominance of suicide attempts with a greater number of attempts during the summer months. There is a need for intervening strategies to be targeted at younger females.