Although suicide is significantly less common among the Shona-speaking people than among Europeans in Rhodesia, no significant difference between the Shona living in Salisbury urban & periurban areas & those in 3 selected Tribal Trust Lands was found. The number of cases of attempted suicide was far more common in Salisbury than in the selected Tribal Trust Lands & was also significantly greater among the Europeans than among the Shona. Reasons for these differences are discussed. (9 refs.)