Thursday 9 August 2012

Emedinews:Insights on Medicolegal Issues:Suicide



The World Health Organization estimates that suicide is the 13th leading cause of death worldwide. The method varies dramatically amongst countries.
  • Over one million people commit suicide every year across the globe.
  • Suicide is derived from a Latin word suicidium, from Sui caedere, "to kill oneself."
  • Suicide is often committed out of despair, or attributed to some underlying mental disorder which includes depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism and drug abuse.
  • Financial difficulties, troubles with interpersonal relationships and other undesirable situations play a significant role
  • The leading methods in different regions include hanging, pesticide poisoning, and firearms.
  • In India 30% of suicides are from pesticides. The use of this method however varies markedly from 4% in Europe to more than 50% in the Pacific region.
  • In the United States, 52% of suicides involve the use of firearms however asphyxiation and poisoning are fairly common as well. Together they comprised about 40% of suicides in the US.
  • Other methods of suicide include blunt force trauma means jumping from a building or bridge, self, stepping in front of a train, or car collision, for example).
  • Bloodletting means slitting one's wrist; intentional drowning, self-immolation, electrocution, and intentional starvation are other suicide methods.
  • A study found increased rates of suicide following the television news stories regarding suicide.

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