Citation

Aichberger MC, Heredia Montesinos A, Bromand Z, Yesil R, Temur-Erman S, Rapp MA, Heinz A, Schouler-Ocak M. Eur. Psychiatry 2015; 30(4): 480-485.

Affiliation

Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Saint-Hedwig Hospital, Charité - University Medicine, Berlin, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2014.12.003

PMID

25596777

Abstract

PURPOSE: Ethnic minority groups show elevated suicide attempt rates across Europe. Evidence suggests a similar trend for women of Turkish origin in Germany, yet data on suicidal behaviour in minorities in Germany is scarce. The objective was to examine rates of suicidal behaviour, underlying motives, and to explore the effectiveness of an intervention program.

METHODS: From 05/2009-09/2011, data on all suicide attempts among women of Turkish origin who presented at a hospital-based emergency unit in Berlin, Germany, were collected. A multi-modal intervention was conducted in 2010 and the effects of age, generation and the intervention on suicide attempt rates were examined.

RESULTS: At the start, the highest rate was found in women aged 18-24years with 225.4 (95% CI=208.8-242.0)/100,000. Adjustment disorder was the most prevalent diagnosis with 49.7% (n=79), being more common in second-generation women (P=.004). Further analyses suggested an effect of the intervention in the youngest age group (trend change of ß=-1.25; P=.017).

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a particularly high rate of suicide attempts by 18-24-year-old, second-generation women of Turkish origin in Berlin. Furthermore, our results suggest a trend change in suicide attempts in women aged 18-24years related to a population-based intervention program.

Language: en