Epidemiology and causes of suicide
Suicide is often the outcome of a personal crisis; yet many conditions, both societal and individual, are established predictors of suicide. It remains a major public health problem worldwide, although rates of suicide vary substantially across nations. The highest rates are reported in Russia and East European countries. This chapter summarizes the existing evidence regarding societal and individual risk factors for suicide. At the societal level, risk factors such as economic crisis, social cohesiveness, and media portrayal are mentioned. Individual risk factors include sociodemographic factors, physical and mental disorders, history of suicide attempt, and suicide risk in minority groups. The risk factors associated with the highest risk are mental disorders and history of suicide attempt. Population-attributable risk calculations suggest that preventive efforts should be directed towards the excess risk associated with recent suicide attempt, mental disorders, and common social factors.