SUICIDE AND ATTEMPTED-SUICIDE REPORTED BY GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS IN BELGIUM, 1990-1991

In 1990-1991 the Belgian sentinel network of general practitioners rec orded suicide and suicide attempts within their practices. The annual attempted suicide rate is estimated at 13.0 cases per 10,000 inhabitan ts. The highest incidence rates are found among women and young people . The annual suicide rate is estimated at 2.3 cases per 10,000 inhabit ants, with the highest rates in men and in elderly people. The highest incidence rates of suicide attempts as well as of suicide are found a mong divorced people. About 30% of the attempters and committers made at least one earlier attempt. Drug overdose and hanging are the most f requently used methods, respectively when attempting and committing su icide. About 60% of both committers and attempters contacted their gen eral practitioner within a period of 1 month preceding the attempt. Ne arly half of the attempters and of the committers were treated for a m ental disorder in the year preceding the attempt.