Suicide and the war in Croatia

Area of Science:

• Forensic Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Sociology

Background:

• Suicide rates and characteristics can be influenced by societal stressors, such as armed conflict.
• Understanding these changes is crucial for public health interventions and mental health support.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the quantitative and qualitative changes in suicide rates during pre-wartime, wartime, and post-wartime periods.
• To investigate the impact of war on demographic factors, methods used, and alcohol intoxication levels among suicide victims.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of suicide data from the Institute of Forensic Medicine (IFM) in Rijeka over a 15-year period (1986-2000).
• Categorization of data into three distinct intervals: pre-wartime, wartime (1991-1995), and post-wartime.
• Quantitative and qualitative assessment of suicide characteristics, including victim demographics, methods, and toxicology.

Main Results:

• A 20.9% increase in suicide rate during the wartime period compared to the pre-war period.
• A 26.2% decrease in suicide rate during the post-wartime period compared to the wartime period.
• Significant increases in suicide victims under forty (45.3% vs. pre-war, 56.6% vs. post-war), quadrupled firearm use, and elevated alcohol intoxication levels during wartime.

Conclusions:

• War has a direct and significant impact on both the frequency and characteristics of suicides.
• The findings underscore the profound psychological toll of war on a population, particularly affecting younger demographics.
• Interventions addressing mental health and substance abuse are critical during and after periods of conflict.