An Analysis of Hospital Visits During the 12 Months Preceding Suicide Death in Northern Alaska

This retrospective case-control study examined suicide among Alaska Native males living in a northern Alaska region in an attempt to identify the frequency & nature of contact with medical staff during the 12 months preceding suicide. Results show that during the last year of life, victims were 2.75 times as likely to have any contact with medical staff, they were 3.29 times as likely to be treated for any injury, & were 22.18 times as likely to be treated for an alcohol-related event than were the matched controls. (10 refs.)