Life Time Suicidal Thoughts in an Urban Community in Hanoi, Vietnam

The WHO SUPRE-MISS community survey questionnaire was filled in for 2,280 randomly selected residents of the DongDa district of Hanoi, Vietnam by means of face-to-face interviews. Prevalance rates for lifetime suicidal thoughts, suicide plans, & suicide attempts were 8.9%, 1.1%, & 0.4% respectively. Suicidal thoughts were associated with multiple characteristics such as female gender, marital status, low income, & lifestyle but not with low education or employment status. Having no religion & being a Buddhist appear to be protective factors for suicidal thoughts. Results imply that suicide prevention measures developed elsewhere can be adjusted to Vietnamese conditions. (35 refs.)