Andrzej Gawliński1, Ireneusz Sołtyszewski1,2, Marek Wiergowski3
Epidemiology of suicides in Poland in 1990–2018
– changes and new trends
1Katedra Kryminologii i Kryminalistyki, Wydział Prawa i Administracji, Uniwersytet Warmińsko-Mazurski, Olsztyn, Polska
2Katedra i Zakład Medycyny Sądowej, Wydział Lekarski, Warszawski Uniwersytet Medyczny, Warszawa, Polska
3Katedra i Zakład Medycyny Sądowej, Wydział Lekarski, Gdański Uniwersytet Medyczny, Gdańsk, Polska
1Department of Criminology and Criminalistics, Faculty of Justice and Administration, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
2Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
3Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
Abstract
Aim of the study: In Poland, the problem of suicide attempts has not been the subject of a comprehensive analysis. We
examined the magnitude of the phenomenon and suicide trends over the past 3 decades, focusing on the number of
suicide deaths and attempts, the method and place of suicide, gender, age, day of the week, and state of mind.
Material and methods: We used official nationwide data collected by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) and the National
Police Headquarters (NPH) for the years 1990–2018. The final statistical data collected by the CSO was verified
on the basis of medically certified deaths.
Results: Despite the correlation between the information from the CSO and NPH on the classification of suicides, in
the opinion of authors’, the published data is underestimated or incorrectly categorized. There were 187,502 suicide
attempts in Poland between 1990 and 2018, 75.8% of which resulted in death. In 2018, the suicide rate in Poland was
13.6 per 100,000 people and was higher than in 1990 (9.7). The highest risk for suicides is observed for men aged 45–54
years, at the turn of winter and spring, on Mondays, and in rural areas. The critical period is Mondays at the turn of
winter and spring. Hanging is the most commonly used suicide method.
Conclusions: Based on the collected statistical data, it should be stated that suicide attempts have for many years been
a significant social problem in Poland, for which no systemic solutions have been introduced.
Key words: suicide, suicide attempt, new trends, Poland.
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