Case records were reviewed of 132 people referred to the FSEG in Lautoka from January 2004 to December 2005 following
an attempt at suicide. Seventy fi ve percent of the study group was under age 32, 90% were Indo-Fijian and 66%
female; these characteristics were signifi cantly overrepresented compared to the demography of the source population.
Findings show that social stress constitutes the primary reason for attempted suicide among all ages, genders, religions
and ethnicities and suggest that Fijians and Christians may also be reacting to economic factors. A control group study
of non-suicidal persons under stress is needed to distinguish characteristics of suicide attempters. Our tentative fi ndings
agree with the current perception and literature on selective demographic risks for attempted suicide – young age, Indian
ethnicity, female gender and social stress.