Behaviour patterns preceding a railway suicide: Explorative study of German Federal Police officers' experiences

BMC Public Health

Table 2 Behavioural pattern of suicide victims as observed by the German Federal Police Officers (n = 202)^a

		Sample		Total
		N	n_total	%
Location	Open track		127	67.2
	Station		64	33.9
	Eminent spot on station		45	25.8
Deviant	Erratic gesture, mimic,	184	39	36.8
behaviour	movement
	Out of the ordinary clothing	187	7	4.1
	Aimlessly wandering about	188	13	14.8
	Erratic communication	187	19	26
	pattern
	Dropping of personal belongings	189	83	50.6
Impression	Confused impression	189	19	25
given	Indication of Alcohol	188	22	21.4
	Avoidance of eye contact	186	34	50

^a Sample size N displays the total amount of answers to that question, including "yes", "no" and "unknown". n_total displays the total number of "yes" answers given by the German Federal Police Officers. Percentages were calculated by using yes/no answers only. To analyse location patterns, we asked for yes or no answers. Therefore, results >100% are due to yes and no answers.

ISSN: 1471-2458