Abstract

Objective: There is limited research on the trends in suicide rates by gender in Turkey. The purpose of the study is to examine suicide rates by gender over time and whether suicide rates by gender differ significantly

Method: The data on suicide from 2007 to 2016 were obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute. The number of suicide cases was 28,760 (72.5% male, 27.5% female). Direct standardization method was used to calculate gender specific suicide rates. Numerical (correlation) and graphical (line charts) methods were used to reveal the trends in suicide rates by gender. Then, paired-sample t-test was conducted to determine whether suicide rates significantly differed by gender.

Results: The increase in suicide rates among males was not statistically significant while there was a statistically significant decrease in suicide rates among females over time. The ratio of male to female suicide rate increased significantly over time. In addition, the difference in suicide rates between males and females was statistically significant. Male suicide rates were 2.5 times higher than that of female.

Conclusion: Suicide rates differ by gender.

Keywords: Suicide; Gender