Introduction: Suicides are determined by multiple factors, with a majority of literature data related to depression. Nevertheless, depression is more common in women, and its prevalence does not explain a higher rate of suicides and suicide attempts in men. It is estimated, that in Europe, there is approximately an equivalent number of deaths related to suicides as to traffic accidents. The goal of this work is to present up-dated information on epidemiology of suicides in the Czech and the Slovak Republics (CZ and SR), and to explore a possible relationship to alcohol. Methods: Search in the official national and international databases and annual health reports (Slovstat, ŠÚ SR, NCZI, ČSÚ, Eurostat, WHO). Results: Suicides account for 4,4% of male and 1,4% of female mortality in the productive age in SR. The suicide rate (pre one hundred thousand inhabitants) culminates at the age of 50-54 years in SR, and after the age 70 in CZ. Alcohol consumption steeply increased mainly in the fifties and the sixties. The trend was different for the two countries, with a continuo s increase up to these days and a higher level of consumption in CZ, in SR there was observed a slight decrease compared to the seventies and eighties (the proportion ofillegal and abroad consumption are difficult to estimate however). The most important finding is a strong positive correlation between recorded average alcohol consumption (per capita) and suicide rate between 1975 and 2010 in SR (Pearson s r = 0,84), while during the same period there was an inverse association (r = -0,76) in CZ. It indicates a different role of alcohol in the culture of these two countries. The strongest correlation was for distilled drinks in SR. It is interesting, that - mainly due to a decline in the female suicide rate - there was an increase in the gender inequality in the last 20 years (the male to female ration is currently 7:1 in SR, and approximately 4-5:1 in CZ). At present, 50% of men and 20% of women commit suicide intoxicated by alcohol. Despite this fact the correlation of average alcohol consumption (men and women together) with suicidality is more evident in women, which is likely to be caused by partner’s consumption/alcoholism. Conclusion: In the Slovak republic, unlike in the Czech republic, there is a do se relation of alcohol consumption to suicide rate, with a double number of deaths due to suicide as compared to traffic accidents. Alcohol is also at the root of gender disparities in suicide activity.

Key words: suicide – suicide rate – alcohol – age – gender