Cross-sectional Study on Suicide in People of Hungarian and Romanian Nationality in Bihor County, Romania

Introduction: Data provided by the “Mina Minovici” National Medico-Legal Institute Bucharest (Romania) demonstrate that most suicidal acts occur in Bucharest, followed by Satu Mare County and Harghita County. According to the 2021 census, more than one-fifth of Bihor County’s population is of Hungarian ethnicity. Material and methods: We conducted this study to compare suicidal acts between Romanians and Hungarians. Data were collected from the Bihor County Medico-Legal Service over a time interval from August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023. Results: We found that most suicidal behaviors occurred in men, with an average age of 52 years. More than half of those who committed suicide were Hungarian. However, most women involved in suicidal acts were Romanian. Hanging was identified as the most common method of suicide. Conclusions: Although Hungarians represent only one-fifth of the total population in Bihor County, the study indicates that this ethnic group is more susceptible to suicide compared to Romanians.