Suicides, psycho-social stress and alcohol consumption in the countries of the former USSR

Using European Health For All Database suicide mortality in the countries of the former USSR has been analyzed for the 30 years period from 1981 to 2011. On the basis of changing pattern of suicide indices it is possible to divide al countries into two big clusters.First cluster, which is characterized by high suicide indexes, unites all Baltic republics (Lithuiania, Latvia, Estonia) and Slavonic countries (Russia, Ukraine, Belarus). Kazakhstan also may be included here. Second cluster, which demonstrates suicide rates 5-8 times lower, consists of the countries of Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan) and several countries of Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan). In the “big cluster” countries social and economic processes of the period of transition (from middle of 80 th to middle of 90 th) have caused dramatic changes of suicide rates with sharp rise especially in men. In the “small cluster” countries these changes were not so strongly marked or did not exist at all. On the other hand analysis of mortality from diseases of circulatory system revealed that in both groups of countries there was a sharp rise of the same intensity. The changes in suicide and other stress-related mortality indices as well as alcohol consumption levels are discussed from the point of view of mechanisms of “canalization” of psycho-social stress in the period of transition.Under most equal pressure of stressful situationscultural peculiarities and ability to keep the identity play important role in determination of suicides levels in men and women, as well as of alcohol consumption and its role as mediator between stress and suicides.