Year: 2005 Source: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, v.40, no.1, (January 2005), p.64-71 SIEC No: 20070522

Medical records of 509 patients admitted to hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam from January 1999-April 2001 were analysed according to the criteria of the WHO Multicentre Study of Attempted Suicide. Nearly half of the attempters were aged 15-24. The female-to-male ratio of patients living in urban areas was higher than in rural areas. Acute life stressors were the main conditions precipitating the suicide attempts. It is concluded some suicide prevention strategies, for example, reducing access to means & problem-solving, used in the West for young people may be applicable in Vietnam. (33 refs.)