Retrospective data on 51 suicides of Polish seamen and fishermen in the years 1960-1999 during work at sea are presented. The impact of age, rank, and the period of service upon the incidence of theses suicides is analysed.

Circumstances typical of the marine occupational environment, sources of stress and individual susceptibility related to the act of self destruction are discussed. Attention is devoted to suicide risk indicators and possible prevention measures to be taken among seafarers.

Kinga Szymańska, Bogdan Jaremin: Clinic of Occupational and Internal Diseases of the Academic Centre for Maritime and Tropical Medicine (ACMTM) of the Medical University of Gdańsk
Elżbieta Rosik, Outpatient Clinic of ACMTM, Autonomous Public Clinical Hospital of the Medical University of Gdańsk

Address for correspondence:
Dr Kinga Szymańska,
Academic Centre for Maritime and Tropical Medicine Medical University of Gdańsk
Powstania Styczniowego 9 B, 81-519 Gdynia
Fax 048-58-622 3354
E-mail: lek.kinga@wp.pl