Suicide Attempts by Poisoning in Hanoi, Vietnam: Methods Used, Mental Problems, and History of Mental Health Care

Methods of poisoning, presence of mental problems, & the rate of psychiatric care among suicide attempters in Vietnam were investigated. 309 individuals admitted to a hospital’s poison control centre were studied. Standardized questionnaries were used. The most common methods were poisoning by psychotropic drugs in urban, & pesticides in rural areas. ICD-10 confirmed disorders were present in 68% of the cases. Most patients were not in contact with psychiatric care. Restrictions on availability & handling of drugs & pesticides should be enforced. Better infrastructures are needed for the identification & treatment of persons with mental disorders. (27 refs.)