[Suicide among medical students]

The purpose of this study is to compare the rate of suicides amongst medical students with the rate of suicides in the general population. The death rate and the total number of suicides amongst medical students were verified for the period 1965-1985. The data concerning the total population of the municipality of São Paulo between 20 and 29 years of age was used for comparison. The suicide rate amongst students was found to be approximately four times that of the general population. The preventive work is essential. Students should be offered conditions in which they can confront the inevitable conflicts and pressures in a medical school.