Suicides in Turkey: 25-year trend (1995-2019).

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Sociology

Background:

• National suicide risk assessment is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
• Understanding suicide trends is vital for public health policy in Turkey.
• Previous research highlights the need for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify at-risk populations for suicide in Turkey.
• To analyze suicide trends over a 25-year period (1995-2019).
• To inform the development of suicide prevention initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of suicide statistics from the Turkish Statistical Institute (1995-2019).
• Statistical analysis using MINITAB v14 software.
• Examination of demographic, temporal, educational, marital, and etiological factors.

Main Results:

• A total of 66,819 suicides were recorded between 1995 and 2019.
• Suicide rates, particularly among males, showed an increasing trend.
• Males (68.3%) aged 15-24 years were most represented; illness was a key risk factor (36.8%); hanging was the primary method (47.5%).

Conclusions:

• Despite a lower overall rate than many countries, the rise in male suicide rates in Turkey is a significant concern.
• Urgent implementation of preventive measures, including education and accessible mental health services, is recommended.
• Targeted interventions for identified at-risk groups are essential to mitigate future increases in suicide.