Methods Used for Parasuicide: Results of the WHO/EURO Multicentre Study on Parasuicide

Ongoing standardized monitoring of attempted suicide in all medical institutions was performed in 14 centres in 12 European countries. The highest rates for drug overdoses were found for female attempters in Oxford, Helsinki, & Stockholm. Guipuzcoa (Spain) had the lowest rates. The differences were most prominent in the age group 15-24 with high rates for women in Oxford, mainly due to the frequent use of analgesics. There is a need, especially for areas with high frequencies for certain methods, to understand the factors involved & to develop new & specific prevention projects & to monitor their effects. The WHO/EURO Multicentre Study on Parasuicide has proved to be a useful & reliable instrument for continuous monitoring of trends in parasuicide. (18 refs.)