Year: 2008 Source: The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, v.53, no.4, (April 2008), p.252-259 SIEC No: 20080552

The epidemiology of suicide in Newfoundland & Labrador from 1997-2001 was examined. Data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner were linked with data derived from the Canadian Vital Statistics Death Database. The Chief Medical Examiner recorded 225 suicides compared with 187 in the Vital Statistics database. Using the Chief Medical Examiner’s data, the overall suicide rate was 9.5/100,000, aged 10 years & older. The rate among males was almost 5 times that of females. The rate for unpartnered individuals was significantly higher compared with partnered individuals. Psychiatric illness was the most common predisposing factor. (27 refs.)