723 attempted suicides were reported by the Addington Hospital, Durban in 1978. The psychiatry department treated 310 of these patients. Relevant findings include the following: women predominated; high risk groups were aged 20-29 years & single. The most common method used was ingestion of benzodiazepines & analgesics. Transient situational disturbances, reactive depression & conduct disorders in adolescents were the most prevalent psychiatric diagnoses.