Attitudes Towards Suicide in Slovenia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Marga Kocmur and Mojca Z. Dernovšek
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Marga Kocmur: University Psychiatric Hospital, Ljubljana-Polje, Slovenia; University Psychiatric Hospital, Studenec 48, SI-1260 Ljubljana-Polje, Slovenia. marga.kocmur@psih-klinika.si
Mojca Z. Dernovšek: University Psychiatric Hospital, Ljubljana-Polje, Slovenia

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2003, vol. 49, issue 1, 8-16

Abstract: Background: Slovenia has been experiencing a very high suicide rate (30 per 10,000 inhabitants per year or higher) and there are no data on public attitudes towards suicide in Slovenia. Aims: To identify public attitudes towards suicide in order to expand the basis for prevention. Methods: A Suicide Attitudes Questionnaire (SUIATT) was sent to a representative sample of adult Slovenian citizens. Results: Some 5.2% of respondents had at least one previous suicidal attempt and 21.6% reported suicidal ideation (SI). More respondents with SI than respondents without SI reported: 1) the suicidal act as deliberated, 2) less importance attached to the mental illness in suicidal behaviour, 3) that a person has the right to commit suicide, and 4) the suicidal act as an act of cowardice. Conclusions: Results do not allow a general statement whether attitudes towards suicide are permissive or restrictive. However, in the subgroup of respondents with SI we found a tendency towards permissiveness regarding suicide.

Date: 2003
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:49:y:2003:i:1:p:8-16

DOI: 10.1177/0020764003049001537

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