INTRODUCTION: The State of Santa Catarina is located in Southern Brazil. The suicide rate in this state is one of the largest in the country. Preliminary studies showed that the westernmost region of Santa Catarina has the largest rate in the state. Descriptive studies about suicide epidemiological profile in this area are not available. METHOD: A descriptive study of suicide rate in the west of Santa Catarina was performed, stratified by gender and age from 1980 to 2005. Methods of suicide are also described. The data were collected from the Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde (Information Technology Department of the Brazilian Unified Health System - DATASUS). RESULTS: Mean suicide rate was 10 cases/100,000 inhabitants in western Santa Catarina. The male rate was three times higher than that of females. There was a 50% increase in suicide rates during the study period, independent of gender or age. Hanging accounted for 76% of male and 73% of female deaths. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that the westernmost region of Santa Catarina has suicide rates higher than the state and national levels, comparable to the highest rates in the country. The epidemiological profile has similarities with the State of Rio Grande do Sul and it should be investigated in further studies.
Suicide; epidemiology; Santa Catarina; Brazil
