Suicide attempts in Slovenian juveniles, 1978-1994

Author(s): Schmidt, I., Gregoric, A., Dogsa, I.

Journal/Book: Nord J Psychiatr. 1998; 52: PO Box 2959 Toyen, Journal Division Customer Service, N-0608 Oslo, Norway. Scandinavian University Press. 487-492.

Abstract: In the present study the characteristics of all 374 juveniles admitted between 1978 and 1994 to the General Hospital in Maribor, Slovenia, after suicide attempts were investigated. Comparisons were made between elementary school children, aged 9-14 years (n = 84), and high school students, aged 15-18 years (n = 290), with regard to social situation and motivation for and means of attempting suicide. The majority, 89.6%, of the suicide attempters were girls. Six children had tried to commit suicide by means of alcohol, whereas all the others (98.4%) had used other drugs. A high proportion had dysfunctional family backgrounds. A disturbed parent-child relationship was the primary reason for the suicide attempt in 38.5%, whereas the act was ascribed to disappointments in love in 21.4% and to despair over poor school performance in 18.2%. A combination of reasons was given in 21.9%. The quality of relationships to others played a central role in both age groups. The main difference between the groups was that the predominant problem among the elementary school children was family relationships, whereas the high school students were more vulnerable to problems in relationships with the opposite sex.

Note: Article Krajnc MS, Univ Maribor, Fac Educ, Koroska 160, SLO-2000 Maribor, SLOVENIA

Keyword(s): childhood problems; family relationships; suicide; suicide attempt; OXFORD-UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

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