Epidemiology of Suicide Thoughts and Suicide Attempts in Young Girls at High-risk Provinces of Iran

The purpose of this study was to investigate the rate of suicide thoughts and suicide attempts among young female students in "at risk provinces" of Iran. Considering the rate of completed suicide in the year 2002, three provinces which had the highest rate of completed suicide were chosen. Then from among the young females aged 14 to 21 years old from the four cities (N=65, 887, M=16.27; SD=1.30) a sample of female were selected in two stages by multi-clustral and simple sampling methods. The data was gathered by administering: (1) Demographic questionnaire, (2) Depressive Symptom Index-Suicidality Subscale and (3) The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale-Suicidality Screening Items and (4) four items for assessing suicide attempt (developed by the authors counsidering the calculated cut off points of the scales and the point prevalence of suicide thoughts and attempts were estimated. The high rates of suicide thoughts and suicide attempts highlight the importance and necessity of improving prevention programs.