Am J Psychiatry 1981; 138:198-201
Copyright © 1981 by American Psychiatric Association
Fifty-two medical student suicides
F Pepitone-Arreola-Rockwell, D Rockwell and N Core
The authors surveyed all U.S. medical schools to ascertain the frequency
with which medical students attempt suicide, complete suicide, and seek
psychiatric treatment. In the classes of 1974-1981 the annual suicide rate
for male students was 15.6 per 100,000, which is comparable to their
agemates in the national population. The rate for female students equaled
that of the male students but was three to four times that of their
agemates. Seventy-six percent of the suicides were committed by sophomore
and junior students, and 50% were committed in November, December, or
January. The authors discuss four steps schools can take in suicidal
prevention.
