Suicide in India: a four year retrospective study

Area of Science:

• Forensic Medicine
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Suicide is a leading global cause of death, necessitating identification of at-risk populations.
• Understanding demographic and socioeconomic factors is crucial for suicide prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify specific risk groups and sociological aspects associated with suicide.
• To analyze suicide patterns including methods, seasonality, and diurnal variations.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 588 suicide autopsies conducted between January 2000 and December 2003.
• Data collection through interviews with acquaintances, hospital records, and autopsy findings.
• Analysis of cases based on sex, age, suicide methods, seasonal/diurnal variations, and sociological factors.

Main Results:

• The suicide rate was 11.76 per 100,000 population, with males and females affected almost equally.
• The highest incidence was observed in the 21-30 age group; hanging and poisoning were the predominant methods (63%).
• Victims were often from rural backgrounds, low socioeconomic status (48%), and had lower education levels; financial burden (37%) and marital disharmony (35%) were primary reasons.

Conclusions:

• Suicide affects diverse demographics, with specific vulnerabilities identified in young adults, lower socioeconomic groups, and those facing financial or marital stress.
• Targeted interventions addressing socioeconomic factors and marital support may be crucial for suicide prevention.
• Further research into the interplay of mental health, alcohol, and suicide is warranted, as these factors were not prominent in this cohort.