Socio-demographic and etiological characteristics of suicide in modern society

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to scientifically describe and explain socio-demographic and causal characteristics of suicide in modern society. Socio-demographic characteristics of suicide indicate that suicide rate has increased by 60% on a global level over the last 45 years, with the average of 16 cases per 100000 people. This increase in the number of suicides is the highest in underdeveloped parts of world countries and socio-professional categories of population with lower level of professional achievements and sociability. In Serbia 66.7 thousand people committed suicide in the period between 1953 and 2008, which is approximately around 1200 a year. Regional suicide rate in Serbia is irregular, being markedly high in Vojvodina and low in the south of the country. With the social cataclysm in 1992, the number of suicides in Serbia reached its historical maximum. The average age of persons committing suicide in Serbia is 52. The most influential etiological model in studying suicide is the concept of risk and protective factors. This model accepts and synthesizes different approaches: biological, psychological, sociological, religious, and psychiatric. It is the basis of modern etiology in the study of suicide. Risk factors increase the likelihood of suicide. Protective factors are key factors in preventing suicide, since they decrease the likelihood of suicide by increasing individual resistance to risk factors.

Cilj rada je naučna deskripcija i objašnjenje socijalno-demografskih i uzročnih obeležja suicida u savremenom društvu. Socijalno-demografska obeležja suicida ukazuju da je na globalnom nivou u poslednjih 45 godina stopa suicida povećana za 60% i da prosečno iznosi 16 na 100 000 stanovnika. Rast samoubistva je najveći u nerazvijenijim regionima i među kategorijama stanovništva koja imaju niža profesionalna postignuća i lošiju socijabilnost. U Srbiji je od 1953. do 2008. godine samoubistvo izvršilo 66,7 hiljada osoba ili prosečno godišnje oko 1200. Srbija ima neujednačenu regionalnu stopu samoubistva sa izraženom visokom stopama u oblasti Vojvodine i niskom stopama na jugu. Uz društvenu kataklizmu, 1992. godine broj samoubistava u Srbiji je došao do istorijskog maksimuma. Prosečna starost osobe koja izvrši samoubistvo u Srbiji je 52 godine. Najuticajniji etiološki model u tumačenju suicida jeste koncept faktora rizika i zaštite. Ovaj model polazi od uvažavanja i sinteze različitih pristupa: biološkog, psihološkog, sociološkog, religijskog, psihijatrijskog i osnov je savremene etiologije u suicidologiji. Faktori rizika su činoci koji povećavaju verovatnoću suicida. Faktori zaštite jesu ključni sa aspekta prevencije samoubistava jer smanjuju verovatnoću da se samoubistvo dogodi tako što povećavaju individualnu otpornost u odnosu na faktore rizika.