[The carinthian suicide database-experiences and findings from 5 years].

Abstract

The WHO describes suicides as a worldwide phenomenon and serious problem for public health, calling for strategies across sectors for suicide prevention. In 2017, the creation of a suicide database has begun in Carinthia which means that there is detailed data about suicides from 2018 up to now for this federal Austrian state.Aim of the study was to characterise all suicides based on the available information from the suicide database Carinthia. The data of 525 suicides from 2018 till 2022 (78% male, 1/3 from the age of 65 up) were subjected to descriptive analysis and cluster analysis.About 80% of suicides happened without prior notice and often in public places (43%). Almost half of the suicides involved a mental disorder and 1/3 involved a sudden change in behaviour. The analysis revealed five clusters which are characterised as follows: "relationship issues, alcohol problems, mentally ill, announced, younger age" (N = 150), "old and sick" (N = 149), "withdrawal, mentally ill, younger age, public place" (N = 135), "unannounced, alone at home, higher age" (N = 56), and "the unidentified" (N = 35). For most of the suicides, multiple stressors and illnesses were surveyed which were identified as risk factors and warning signals. For a smaller number, many factors are unknown, and the suicides occur unannounced and unexpectedly.Several specific suicide prevention strategies could be introduced based on this data, which has also been incorporated into international studies.