Autopsy-based retrospective study of hanging deaths at hospital center in Central India

Hanging is one of the most common methods of suicide in India, particularly among young adults. Hence, this retrospective autopsy-based study was conducted on 39 cases of death by hanging at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Vidisha, over a two-year period. The majorities of victims were males (62%) and aged 21-30 years (43.58%). A significant proportion were married (59%) and most incidents occurred indoors (87.17%), indicating a preference for privacy. This study advances knowledge by providing regional data on hanging-related suicides, highlighting the role of social, psychological and familial stressors and emphasizing the need for early psychological intervention and proper handling of crime scenes in suicide prevention.