Suicide in Lithuania during the years of 1990 to 2002.

Lithuania, among other Eastern European countries, has the highest suicide rates in the world. While the mid 1980's experienced a sharp decline in suicidality, the year of 1991 began a new increase in suicide rates, reaching an estimated 44.7 per 100,000 persons in the year of 2002. The ratio of male to female rates was 4.5 to 6.1 in the years of 1990 to 2002. The suicide mortality of rural inhabitants, especially men, has been growing even more intensely, occurring twice as often as among their urban counterparts. When looking at the age factor, the highest suicide risk is for middle-aged men. Among the males aged 45 to 54 years suicide rates reach 154.6. The most common method of suicide remains hanging, both for males and females. The underlying reasons of the suicide spread in Lithuania are multi determined.