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.