Suicidal behaviour in Halifax, Nova Scotia: with some general observations.

Abstract

A brief report of suicide statistics — completed suicides, attempts with lethal intent (a new category), and other attempts — is presented. The highest risk group in Halifax County is the male from late adolescence to early middle life. Statistics from Canada and Nova Scotia reveal a marked increase in the rate of completed suicides in the young adult male during the past twenty years. It is noteworthy that completed suicides and attempts with lethal intent frequently occur in persons with no clear evidence of significant depressive illness and that many patients with severe depressive illness are never seriously suicidal. Many persons and some families have a pattern of reacting to stress and/or psychiatric illness with suicidal behaviour. There is often little correlation between the seriousness of the stress and/ or illness and the seriousness, of the suicidal behaviour. Most suicide's were considered to be not preventable by ordinary techniques of management. Various patterns of behaviour relevant to preventability are described. A brief description of reactions of physicians and nurses to suicidal behaviour is given. There is a negative reaction of both groups to suicidal attempts which are not serious, particularly to repeaters; and this reaction is much stronger in nurses than in physicians. There is also a brief description of unusual complications of suicidal attempts and of the very high medical costs of caring for those who make attempts.