The British Journal of Psychiatry 159: 515-519 (1991)
© 1991 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Suicide among adolescents in Greece
S Beratis
Medical School, University of Patras, Greece.
The mean suicide rate among 10-19-year-olds in Greece from 1980 to 1987 was
0.98/100,000 per year (male 1.07, female 0.89). Girls and boys demonstrated
the greatest suicide rate at 16 and 19 years, respectively. The combined
suicide rate was significantly higher in the rural areas (1.48) than in
Athens (0.48) and the other urban areas (0.98). Boys committed suicide more
frequently than girls in Athens and other urban areas, whereas girls did so
in the rural areas. The suicide rate declined during the last three years
of the study. Differences in the methods used and the reported reasons for
suicide were observed among the adolescents in Athens, other urban areas,
and the rural areas. Greek adolescents appear to be relatively protected
from suicide, particularly those who live in the urban areas.