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Suicides in the young people of Geneva, Switzerland, from 1993 to 2002.

Perret G, Abudureheman A, Perret-Catipovic M, Flomenbaum M, La Harpe R

Institut Universitaire de Médecine Légale de Genève, CMU, 9 Av. de Champel, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. perretg@bluewin.ch

Suicides in Geneva in those less than 25 years old, from 1993 to 2002, were reviewed. Scenes investigations, autopsy findings, toxicology results, and psychiatric history (when available) were examined. There were 65 cases. The average annual suicide rate was 11/100,000. Seventy-seven percent were male, and 23% were female. The youngest was 12 years old and most of the victims were 18 years old and over (89%). For men, the use of firearms was the most common method (38%), followed by fall from height (16%) and drowning (10%). For women, fall from height was the most frequent (40%), followed by firearms and medication overdoses (20% each), hanging (13%), and drowning (7%). Toxicological analysis was performed in 41% of the cases and showed that alcohol was present in 26% and other drugs in 67% of these cases. The most common drugs present were benzodiazepines, cannabis, and cocaine.

Published 4 October 2006 in J Forensic Sci, 51(5): 1169-73.
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