Introduction:

suicidal behavior is a major public health problem, which affects all population groups, regardless of race, sex or religion. The aim of this investigation was to characterize the behavior of suicidal behavior in the Urabá region of Antioquia between 2000 and 2010.

Methodology:

a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. It was used a mortality data base generated by the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE).

Results:

in eleven years of studies, 143 suicides were recorded in Urabá, 80% were men. The average age stood at 31.1 years, but behaved differently according to sex: 32.8 in men and 24 in women. 44.8% were single. The most used method was hanging, 43.4%, followed by firearm, 32.9%, although this last one was almost exclusively of men. Predominance of suicides in the place of residence, 44.3%. The month with the highest rate of suicide was January with 11.9%, it accounted for days to Sunday, with 19.6%. The rate of the whole period was 2.6 suicides per hundred thousand inhabitants. The largest municipal rate was in Mutatá with 5.5.

Conclusions:

a significant number of suicides were found; however, there are no specific causes that make it evident. It is believed that the recent violence affecting the region and the availability of means to carry out suicide are important risk factors for the population and are identified as points where prevention campaigns must be addressed.

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