Evaluation of Employed Methods of Committing Suicide and Its Important Aspects at a Tertiary Health Centre in Central Indian Population

Shibanand Nepal Karmakar

Published on: 2022-11-19

Abstract

Background: Suicide is an important manner of deaths worldwide. The various employed methods of committing suicide vary from region to region worldwide. A person committing suicide tries to employ the easily available method for committing it. Suicidal deaths cause psychological and economical agony to the surviving family members. There is a need to study the various important aspects of suicidal cases. The present study highlights the commonly employed methods of committing suicide and important aspects of suicide at a tertiary health centre in central Indian population.

Conclusion: Majority of the cases were males. Majority of the cases were in the age group 10-39 years. Poisoning and Hanging were the two most important methods employed for committing suicide.

Keywords

Forensic Medicine; Forensic Pathology; Suicide; Poisoning; Hanging

Introduction

A suicide method is any means by which a person chooses to end their life. Suicide attempts do not always result in death, and a nonfatal suicide attempt can leave the person with serious physical injuries, long-term health problems, and brain damage [1]. As per World Health Organization more than 700 000 people die due to suicide every year. For every suicide there are many more people who attempt suicide. A prior suicide attempt is the single most important risk factor for suicide in the general population. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds. 77% of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries. Ingestion of pesticide, hanging and firearms are among the most common methods of suicide globally [2].

The present study highlights the important aspects of suicide at a tertiary health centre in central Indian population.

Material and Method

The present study was conducted at the department of forensic medicine at a tertiary healthcare centre in central India. The duration of study was a period of eight months from July 2020 to February 2021.All the cases were the cases whose autopsy was conducted by the author in the said above period. During this period a total of 53 autopsy cases of suicide were examined.

The inclusion criteria for the present study were as follows:-

Suicidal Cases whose autopsy was conducted by the author in the institute.

The exclusion criteria for the present study were as follows:-

Cases where death was not due to suicidal death manner.
Unknown bodies.
Bodies which were brought in decomposed state.

After the above mentioned inclusion and exclusion criteria a total 53 cases of suicidal deaths were included in the present study.

Consent is not required for conducting medicolegal autopsies in our country and hence consent to participate was not required.

The cases were studied in relation to age of the deceased, gender and method employed for committing suicide.

Results

Table 1: Age group wise and Gender wise distribution of the death of the suicidal victims

Age Group	Males	Females	Total
0-9 years	0	0	0
10-19 years	5	3	8
20 – 29 years	17	5	22
30- 39 years	12	2	14
40 – 49 years	2	1	3
50 – 59 years	1	1	2
60 – 69 years	2	1	3
70 – 79 years	1	0	1
Total	40	13	53

Out of total 53 cases of suicidal deaths; 40 cases were males while 12 cases were females. There were no cases in the age group 0-9 years. In the age group 10-19 years; 5 cases were male while 3 cases of female gender. In the age group 20-29 years; 17 cases were male and 5 cases was of female gender. In the age group 30-39 years; 12 cases were male and 2 cases were of female gender. In the age group 40-49 years; 2 cases were male and 1 case was of female gender. In the age group 50-59 years; 1 case was male and 1 case was of female gender. In the age group 60-69 years; 2 cases were male and 1 case was of female gender. In the age group 70-79 years; 1 case was male while there was no case of female gender.

Table 2:Methods employed for committing suicide.

Causes	Males	Females	Total
Poisoning	21	3	24(45.3%)
Hanging	12	7	19(35.8%)
Drowning	5	0	5(9.4%)
Burn	2	3	5(9.4%)
Total	38	12	53(100%)

Out of total 53 cases of suicidal deaths; 24 (45.3 %) cases committed suicide by consuming Poison, 19 (35.8 %) cases committed suicide by hanging, 5 (9.4 %) cases committed suicide by drowning and 5 (9.4 %) cases committed suicide by burns.

Of 24 (45.3 %) cases who committed suicide by consuming Poison; 21 were males and 3 were female victims.

Of 19 (35.8 %) cases who committed suicide by hanging; 12 were males and 7 were female victims.

Of 5 (9.4 %) cases who committed suicide by drowning all 5 were males victims.

Of 5 (9.4 %) cases who committed suicide by burns; 2 were males and 3 were female victims.

Discussion

Suicide is death caused by injuring oneself with the intent to die. A suicide attempt is when someone harms themselves with any intent to end their life, but they do not die as a result of their actions. [3]Suicide rates increased 30% between 2000–2018, and declined in 2019 and 2020. Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, with 45,979 deaths in 2020. This is about one death every 11 minutes. [4]In 2020 in the United States, suicide was among the top 9 leading causes of death for people ages 10-64. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 25-34. [4]Suicide and suicide attempts affect the health and well-being of friends, loved ones, co-workers, and the community. When people die by suicide, their surviving family and friends may experience shock, anger, guilt, symptoms of depression or anxiety, and may even experience thoughts of suicide themselves[5].

Age group wise and Gender wise distribution of the death of the suicidal victims:

In our study of suicidal deaths, 40 cases were males while 12 cases were females with male: female ratio 3.3:1.

[6]Found suicide is more prevalent among men. While [7] found that the gap between male and female suicide rates in India is relatively small.[8] also found suicide rates were nearly equal for young women and men. [9]Found more male cases of suicide with male: female ratio 5.3:1.

In our study of suicidal deaths, cases were highest in the age group 20-29 years followed by 30-39 years and 10-19 years. Thus age group 10-39 years constituted 44 cases of 53 cases.

[9]Found the pattern of suicides in India is bimodal: the incidence of suicides is highest for those in the 30-44-year-old category of both sexes and tends to decline in higher age categories. [9]Found 38.6% cases of suicide in third decade.

Methods employed for committing suicide:

In our study of suicidal deaths, consumption of poison and hanging were the two most commonly employed methods of committing suicide accounting for 45.3 % and 35.8% cases respectively. [9]Found hanging and poisoning as the two most commonly employed method for committing suicide accounting for 75.9% and 10.3% respectively.[10] Found Poisoning (45%) and hanging (41%) as the commonest methods for committing suicide.[11]Found the most common method among both genders in Japan was hanging, followed by jumping from a high place. In the United States, it was firearms among both genders, followed by hanging among males and drugs among females. For Asians in the United States, hanging was the method of choice for about half among both genders; hanging was the most common method for the age group of 40 years or more among males and for all age groups among females. Firearms were the method of choice for the 20-39 age group among males [11].

Conclusion

Males outnumbered females in suicidal cases with male: female ratio 3.3:1. Majority of the cases were in age group 10-39 years constituting about 83% cases. Consumption of poison and hanging were the two most commonly employed methods of committing suicide accounting for 45.3 % and 35.8% cases respectively. The study highlights the important aspects of suicidal deaths. This could help in better understanding of important facets of suicidal death cases.