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Suicide Trends in At-Risk Territories (START)

Component One

Component One of START (the monitoring component) intends to develop a database for suicidal behaviours (both fatal and non-fatal suicidal behaviours) using a standardized collection procedure. This same collection process will be replicated in all study locations, which will ensure standardized and comparable data across a diverse number of countries.

Data on both fatal and non-fatal suicidal behaviours will be recorded using the standardized monitoring forms developed for the project. These forms use a cross-culturally acceptable definition of suicide and standardized questions on demographic details, as well as the International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes for recording suicide methods. The monitoring study also aims to record ‘intent’, an aspect recognized as important in classifying suicidal behaviours (De Leo, et al., 2004).

The monitoring component aims to collect the following basic information:

Essential information:

• Age: date of birth (e.g. day/month/year);
• Sex (e.g. male or female);
• Location of suicide: where the person was found or carried out the suicidal behaviour (e.g. at home, at place of work, river, roadside, bushland);
• Date of suicide: (e.g. day/month/year);
• Time of suicide: in 24-hour time (e.g. 00:50);
• Method of suicide: using ICD-10 codes for suicide methods;
• Ethnicity: ethnic origin adapted to the local context.

If possible, the following information should also be collected:

• Statement of intent (either indirect or direct);
• The presence of alcohol or illicit/prescription drugs.