Russia has one of the highest suicidal ratings in the world. Mental patients form the absolute majority both in suicidal attempts and consummated suicides.

448 cases of mental patients with suicidal attempts in the period 1991-2001, who received medical care in St. Petersburg district outpatient clinic were studied.

The amount of suicidal patients among all mental outpatients was 4.9%. Male/female ratio was 1 : 1,6. Suicidal patients were diagnosed as schizophrenia (F2 -55.6%) and delusional disorders (F22 - 4.5%), affective disorders (F3 - 16.5%), organic disorders (F07.8 - 18.8%), personality disorders (F60 - 4.5%). Mean age for males was significantly lower (31.4) compared to females (36.6). The tendency of decrease in suicide mean age (4.1 year) was obtained during the period of 1990-2001. The preponderate mode of suicide in females was self-poisoning (82,7%); in males preponderate modes were self-injuring (50,6%) and self-poisoning (45,9%). The duration of mental disorder in our study was higher (mean 10.3 years), compared to previous data. Maximum of suicidal attempts (20%) was registered in 1997-96. Less number of registered suicidal attempts after 1997 may be explained by the loss of officially registered mental patients including firstly registered in the outpatient service. The role of risk factors such as mental disorder heredity, suicidal attempts in relatives, loneliness, and alcohol abuse was elucidated.

Antisuicidal programs in outpatient care should include introduction of suicide risk ratings together with mental patient compliance improvement.