SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC ASPECTS OF ADULT SUICIDE IN BRAZIL IN THE LAST FOURTEEN YEARS WITH EMPHASIS ON DEPRESSION

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide is a phenomenon with great social impact that, although preventable, represents a serious public health problem. Suicide mortality rates are significantly higher among men. The concept that suicide can be understood as a possible outcome in a trajectory of profound suffering, marked by intense depression, acts of despair or even states of insanity, revives the debate about the difficulties in understanding and approaching these people throughout their personal experiences. Objective: The present work aims to analyze and discuss aspects related to suicide in Brazil, with an emphasis on adults, and the contributions of the last 14 years related to the clinical characteristics of depression associated with the outcome of suicide. Method: Trata-se de uma revisão bibliográfica de natureza qualitativa com levantamento de dados nas bases: Scielo, Literatura Latino-Americana em Ciências da Saúde (LILAC), Bridge Base Online (BBO), Medline / PubMed e DATASUS e Ministério de Saúde, abrangendo as publicações dos últimos 14 anos.  Results and Discussion: The results indicate a continuous increase in suicide mortality rates over the last 14 years, with an emphasis on the greater risk of death among men and the increase in suicide rates among young people. Conclusion: It is clear that suicide attempts represent a serious public health problem, as they are directly linked to mental health issues. Therefore, it is essential to promote reflection on suicidal thoughts and behaviors, in order to require special attention from the social and family support networks that involve the individual.