The Prevalence of Suicide and Parasuicide (“Attempted Suicide”) in Edinburgh

The prevalence of both completed and attempted suicide in Edinburgh during 1970 is described. Both aspects of suicide were representative on the variables of sex, age & area of residence. Attempted and completed suicide are epidemiologically distinct and likely to have different causes. Rates varied with area of residence. Results also showed that the attempted suicide group is at high risk for eventual completed suicide which has important implications for suicide prevention.(LH)