Suicides: too many in France despite a 13% drop

The number of suicides is higher in France , with about 10,000 deaths per year , despite a steady decline in the past decade , said the National Union for Suicide Prevention ( UNPS ) .
According to data available from Inserm, 10,632 people died by suicide in 2002 , 73% of men and 27 % women for a number of attempts estimated 150,000.

The decline in ten years ( 1619 deaths compared to 1993 ) has been steady . It is more marked in the 15-24 years ( 589 deaths in 2002 , 40% in ten years) and the average for more than 60 years ( 3536 deaths , 15% ) . In contrast, the number of deaths by suicide is stable for 10 years for 35-59 years ( 5926 deaths in 2002 ) .

Suicide is the leading cause of death among 35-44 year olds and the second leading cause among 15-24 year olds , highlights the UNPS , which organizes the National Suicide Prevention Day on February 5 for 10 years .

She stressed that suicide mortality is primarily male (three quarters) even though women (all ages ) are 4-5 times more likely to attempt suicide than men.

" Women use more attempted suicide as a cry for help and favor the use of drugs that allow a greater opportunity " while men mainly use hanging and firearms.

The UNPS underlines the failure of prevention and regrets the absence of any public communication campaign on the theme.

The association announced the establishment by the subsidiary in charge of preventing mutual Macif in 32 departments, a network of 30 volunteer listeners and clinical psychologists recruited and trained by the UNPS to the problem of mourning after suicide.

Suicide is an underestimated the number of attempts and the number of deaths phenomenon , show the results of a survey conducted by ANACOM for UNPS Macif and prevention.

Thus, 60% of the 551 people interviewed in December 2005 and January 2006, 50,000 attempts think there while 18 % believe that there are more than 100,000 ( against about 150,000 actually ) . Similarly, 39 % of respondents believe in 5000 the number of deaths by suicide and 24 % give an answer close to reality (more than 10,000) .

Suicide deaths are associated with adolescence when they occur mostly in 35-59 years , and no distinction is made between men and women.

In the survey, one in four states have been affected by the suicide of a loved one ( family or friend ) . " Suicide seems to be seriously considered easier ," notes UNPS under increased between 2000 and 2005 the proportion of respondents reported having contemplated suicide .