Suicides up

Last year a total of 181 people killed themselves in the Algarve and Alentejo, 17.5 per cent up on 2002. And, according to the GNR, the highest incident rate was recorded in Faro. In total, 56 people in the Algarve put an end to their lives, compared to 50 in Beja, 42 in Évora and 33 suicides in Portalegre. Most of the suicides were men over the age of 55. In 120 cases, the suicide method chosen was hanging, but there were also 16 cases of death by a firearm, 27 by drowning, 12 by poisoning, one by jumping on a rail line and five cases in which the method was unspecified.