Gender differences in suicide in Serbia within the period 2016-2020

Background/Aim. About one million suicide deaths occurred in the world per year, and that indicates the importance of this problem. The aim of the study was to give an overview about the status of gender differences of suicide committed in Serbia within the period 2016 to 2020 and highlight the most important trends over past ten years. This investigation is continuing the previous investigation from the period 2011-2016. Methods. The same method was used like in previous investigations with data obtained from the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, estimating gender differences for total number of suicides, suicide rates, sociodemographic characteristic and for methods of suicide. Results. Within the period 2016-2020, 4752 suicides in Serbia were committed, from which 75.1% were males and 24.9% females (M:F=3.01:1). Annual suicide rate showed constantly decreased from 2016 to 2020, and in 2020 it was the lowest (13.0 per 100 000 inhabitants). Married males (43.4%) and widowed females (38.56%), with secondary education and retired, most often committed suicide. About a quarter (24.5%) suicide committers were older than 75 years, and 42.59% were older than 65 years. Hanging, strangulation and suffocation were the most common suicide methods in males (64.03%) and females (54.93%). Conclusion. Suicide rate in the last decade from year-to-year continued the tendency of decrease in Serbia. Within the period 2016-2020, male/female ratio of suicide rate, age differences varied from 2.4 in the oldest group (older than 75 years) to 9.1 in the group of adolescents. Suicide Prevention Program in Serbia primarily should be targeted at two age groups, at highest risk to commit suicide, towards old adult population and towards male adolescents. A comprehensive state prevention program should include education for GPs (general practitioners) for the early detection for high-risk individuals to provide them with psychiatric care, including support for suicide survivors too.