Between 1 January and 31 December 1978, there were 723 episodes of overdosage, poisoning, self-inflicted injury and other possible manifestations of parasuicide reported by the casualty and trauma units of Addington Hospital, Durban. The Department of Psychiatry at this hospital attended to 310 of the patients involved. The study represents an analysis of their characteristics, which might indicate those at greatest risk of parasuicide. Some of the more relevant findings include the following: women predominated, those most at risk were in the age group 20--29 years, and single people were more at risk. The most common method of parasuicide was the ingestion of benzodiazepines and analgesics. A seasonal fluctuation was noted with a referral peak during the summer months, viz. December--February. Transient situational disturbances, reactive depression and conduct disorders in adolescents were the most prevalent psychiatric diagnoses.