The aim of the study was to evaluate the associations between self-reported suicidal behaviours (i.e., ideators, attempters, and multiple attempters) and socio-demographic as well as psychosocial characteristics in the Hungarian population.

Data obtained from two cross-sectional studies performed in 1995 and 2002 with 12,527 and 12,653 respondents, respectively, which were representative of the adult (aged 18 and older) Hungarian population for sex, age, and place of residence.

The prevalence of suicidal behaviours decreased between 1995 and 2002, however, in both studies, suicidal behaviours were significantly more frequent among women, the unemployed, people with no partners (divorced/separated), with lower educational attainment, Protestants, and Jews compared to their respective controls. High levels of depressive symptomatology, maladaptive coping strategies such as excessive eating/drinking, misuse of alcohol or medication, or risk-taking behaviour, as well as previous suicide in the family, hostile attitude (primarily within the family), low levels of perceived social support (from one's partner, parents, children and co-workers) have been associated with suicidal behaviours.

Although suicidal behaviours share several common psychosocial background factors, high level of depressive symptomatology was the most important risk factor, while the order of the other potential risk factors differed considerably among the different forms of self-reported suicidal behaviour.