[Suicide from the standpoint of social medicine]

Demographic, social, and medical analysis of more than 30,000 suicide cases in a large region of Russia (Krasnodar region) over 1969-1994 showed the prevalence of men, subjects aged over 60, divorced and widowed subjects, individuals living alone, subjects without permanent occupation, mental patients, chronic alcoholics, and invalids in this group. The principal factors determining the processes of formation of the totality of suicides have been determined and the most prevalent social and hygienic characteristics of a suicide described. Groups with the highest level of suicides have been identified: narcomaniacs, mental patients, chronic alcoholics, disabled subjects. The authors emphasize not so much the medical, but the social aspect of the problem. They offer the priority research trends and organization measures aimed at investigation of the suicide phenomena and prevention thereof.