Suicide attempts among Greek and Danish women and the quality of their relationships with husbands or boyfriends.

Greek and Danish women 15-45 years old who attempted suicide were interviewed with an extensive semistructured schedule, in Athens and Copenhagen, after admission to the intensive care unit of 2 general hospitals and one psychiatric reception ward. This article presents 2 groups from each country, a group of married women and a group with steady relationships (n = 56), focusing on the quality of their relationships and their significance for the women's suicide attempts. Most of the women in both countries had very poor relationships, as concerns communication, intimacy, concern, recreation, sharing of everyday activities and social and private life. A high degree of psychological and physical violence was found in all 4 groups. The burdensome and humiliating relationship created shame in the women. After unsuccessful attempts to change the relationship and inability to leave it because of financial and emotional dependence, the women attempted suicide to escape from the situation.