Apoio social, eventos estressantes e depressão em casos de tentativa de suicídio: um estudo de caso-controle realizado em um hospital de emergência do Rio de Janeiro Social support, stressful life events and depression in suicide attempts: a case-control study developed in an emergency hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The goal of this study was to estimate the prevalence of stressful life events, social support and depression, and to evaluate the association among these variables and suicide attempts seen in an emergency hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between 2006 and 2007. This was a case-control study (case: n=59) (control: n=118) using the following instruments: a sociodemographic questionnaire, the International Development Interview (CIDI), version 2.1, for assessing depression; the Scale for Assessment of Social Readjustment, and the Social Support Scale (Medical Outcomes Study). There was a significant difference between cases and controls in the prevalence of stressful life events, absence of social support and depression. Cases and controls were low literacy proportions (50.8 and 61.9%, respectively) and informal workers (52.6 and 55.0%, respectively). Our findings suggest that suicide attempts prevention must be multidisciplinary. This includes educational and employment policies and actions, along with interventions on mental health care, as well as social support.