Analysing Crime Scene Data, Medical Records and Forensic Information to Determine the Causes of Suicides

To analyse crime scene data, medical records, and forensic information to unveil insights into the causes and traits of suicides.

Descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Family Medicine, Kayseri City Hospital, Kayseri, Turkiye, between January 2020 to December 2021.

A suicide investigation team (doctor, social worker, psychologist) was created to study cases and conduct on-site psychological autopsies. Triggered by emergency calls, the team interviewed suicide victims' relatives using semi-structured questionnaires, gathering data on personal details, time, method, and potential motives. Medical records revealed psychiatric history and medication use, while national judicial systems were reviewed for legal records.

A total of 158 fatal suicides were studied. Males accounted for 73.4%, females 26.6%. The leading cause was psychiatric illness (43%), chiefly depression (39%). Suicide peaked in the fall, especially in September, mainly at 23:00-23:59. Home was the common site (58.9%), and hanging was the primary method (44.3%). Prior hospitalisation for suicide attempts was 7.5%. Criminal records were held by 16.4% (26 individuals).

The results support the idea that suicides have seasonal patterns and that there are temporal windows of increased risk for suicide.

Suicide reasons, Suicide time, Psychological autopsy, Seasonal and temporal patterns.