Marjan Fathi
1,2 
, Seyed Kazem Malakouti
1,2 , Mohsen Rezaeian
3 , Kourosh Sayehmiri
4 , Abbas Sheikhtaheri
5 , Ida Ghaemmaghamfarahani
6 , Ahmad Hajebi
7 , Behrooz Ghanbari
8 , Farnaz Etesam
9,10* 1 Mental Health Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Geriatric Mental Health Research Center, School of Behavioral Sciences and Mental Health, Iran University of Medial Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Occupational Environment Research Center, Rafsanjan Medical School, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
4 Psychosocial Injuries Research Center, Faculty of Health, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
5 Department of Health Information Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
6 Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Islamic Azad University, South Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
7 Research Center for Addiction & Risky Behaviors (ReCARB), Department of Psychiatry, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
8 Trauma and Injury Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
9 Psychosomatic Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
10 Baharloo Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Background: Considering the limited information on suicide determinants, especially in low- and middle-income countries, the establishment and promotion of a suicide registration system are among the prominent strategies for suicide prevention programs around the world. The multicenter suicide registry is designed to collect standardized data from the two provinces of Iran according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
Methods: The Suicidal Behavior Registration Program is a multicenter study designed in five stages, including literature review, infrastructure establishment, database design, training, data analysis, and examining opportunities and challenges. The research samples cases of suicide attempts and self-harm from hospitals in the provinces of Tehran and Ilam.
Results: The multicenter suicide registration program was carried out for 8 months in the two provinces of Tehran and Ilam. During the study period, data of 1382 people were registered, of which 7 cases in Ilam resulted in death. The study uncovered significant differences in socio-demographic, psychological status, and suicide characteristics in the two provinces.
Conclusion: The design and implementation of the suicide registration program help researchers and policymakers make more innovative and effective interventions to prevent suicide by creating a comprehensive database of suicidal behavior determinants.