Selvmord og alkohol i det tidligare Sovjetunionen og Estland: studier på aggregert- og individnivå.

Abstract

The aim of the article is to present the results of the aggregate level studies in former USSR and individual level studies in Estonia performed by the Estonian-Swedish Mental Health and Suicidology Institute on association between alcohol and suicide. Aggregate level studies by Wasserman-V䲮ik group have shown that sharp decrease of suicide rates (decrease 32% for males and 19% for females) was associated with the strict anti-alcohol campaign in the USSR during 1985-1989. Individual level studies have shown that alcohol misuse (alcohol dependence and abuse) and acute alcohol intoxication were important suicide risk factors. The group most affected by alcohol and suicide were males in working age. It could be concluded that restrictive alcohol policy could help to prevent suicides and other external causes of deaths. Stemming from our research we consider that strict alcohol policy in prevention of suicides gives the best effect among young males.