Suicide – a Risk Behavior in Teenagers From Rural Areas, in Bihor County

This study identified suicide as a risk behaviour in teenagers in rural areas of Romania & assessed the relation between maturity, depression level, & suicidal risk. 57 teenagers (29 girls & 28 boys, ages 15-17 years) in Bihor County were studied using an epidemiological transversal inquiry with 4 questionnaires. The depression level among girls was 0.80 (moderate) & among boys, 0.35 (no depression). 10.52% of girls had severe depression. The suicide risk was moderate at 20.80% (13.78% girls, 7.02% boys) & severe in 3.5% of girls. 19.2% of the sample had suicide ideation, from which 12.28% made a plan & 2 teenagers attempted suicide. There was an inverse relation between maturity & suicide risk & a direct relation between depression & suicidal risk. (9 refs.) JA