Parasuicide in a General Hospital in South Africa

Abstract

The study examined parasuicide behaviour in black (people of African origin) South Africans. The subjects comprised 51 cases of parasuicide, with a mean age of 23.5 yr. (the majority being women), referred over a one-year period. For most patients it was the first parasuicide attempt, and the majority used methods of self-poisoning. In addition, they were mostly single and had experienced early parental loss.