SUICIDE RATE, PREVALENCE OF DIAGNOSED DEPRESSION AND PREVALENCE OF WORKING PHYSICIANS IN HUNGARY

Based on the well-known relationship between depression and suicide, w e investigated the regional distribution of the suicide rate, rate of diagnosed depression and prevalence of working physicians in Hungary. A strong significant positive correlation was found between the rate o f working physicians and rate of diagnosed depression, and both parame ters showed a strong significant negative correlation with the suicide rate. The more physicians per 100,000 inhabitants, the better is the recognition of depression and the lower is the suicide rate in the giv en region. The rate of working doctors was significantly higher in the counties located in western Hungary, which may have a role in the low er suicide mortality in this area of the country.