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Trends in suicidality amid the economic crisis in Greece

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Abstract

For the decade 2000–2010, suicidal rates appear to be both low and stable in Greece and unrelated to the socioeconomic environment. It is highly possible that the recent crisis caused a significant increase in dysphoria, stress, depression and maybe suicidal ideation in the general population, but completed suicides do not seem to have increased so far. Measures are needed to make sure there will be no increase in completed suicides in the near future, since historically, periods of socioeconomic instability might be related to increased suicidality. Community interventions reduce stigma and enhance help-seeking. However, only those including the creation of social support networks are essential in the fight against suicidality.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. Fountoulakis is/was member of the International Consultation Board of Wyeth for desvenlafaxine, BMS for aripiprazole in bipolar disorder and Servier for agomelatine and has received honoraria for lectures from AstraZeneca, Janssen-Cilag, Eli-Lilly and research grants from AstraZeneca and Pfizer Foundation; Dr. Savopoulos has received travel support from various pharmaceutical companies; Dr. Siamouli has received travel support from various pharmaceutical companies; Dr. Zaggelidou has no conflict of interest; Dr. Mageiria has received travel support various pharmaceutical companies; Dr. Iacovides has received speaker’s honoraria from AstraZeneca, Lilly, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals; Dr. Hatzitolios has received travel support various pharmaceutical companies. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 3rd Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Konstantinos N. Fountoulakis, Melina Siamouli, Stamatia Mageiria & Apostolos Iacovides

  2. 1st Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, S. Kyriakidi 1, 54634, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Christos Savopoulos & Apostolos I. Hatzitolios

  3. Forensic Service of Thessaloniki, Ministry of Justice, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Eleni Zaggelidou

Authors
  1. Konstantinos N. Fountoulakis
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  2. Christos Savopoulos
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  3. Melina Siamouli
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  4. Eleni Zaggelidou
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  5. Stamatia Mageiria
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  6. Apostolos Iacovides
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  7. Apostolos I. Hatzitolios
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Correspondence to Christos Savopoulos.

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Fountoulakis, K.N., Savopoulos, C., Siamouli, M. et al. Trends in suicidality amid the economic crisis in Greece. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 263, 441–444 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-012-0385-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-012-0385-9

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