Pattern of Mortality among Adolescent Suicides in Victoria Hospital Mortuary
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/ijfmt.v17i1.18895Keywords:
Adolescent suicide, Psycho-social profile, Suicide prevention.Abstract
Background: Each year approximately 8 lakh people die by suicides worldwide.(1) Suicideamong adolescents
warrants special concern for several reasons. Early adolescence and young adulthood display increase in
deaths from suicides.(2) It is the second leading cause of death in adolescents in comparison to other age groups.
Adolescence and youth are predominant ages during which suicide is attempted.(3) Hence, studies on adolescent
suicides potentially presents opportunities to prevent the same, thus saving many lives.
Objectives: To determine pattern of adolescent suicides in terms of socio-demographic parameters, methods, and
causes.
Materials & Methods: A Cross sectional study was conducted at the Victoria Hospital Mortuary for 18 months
between November 2017 to May 2019. Medicolegal autopsies were performed on the victims of suicidal deaths
between the age group of 13-18 years during that period. The cases were then analysed with the information
gleaned from the police, family, and the autopsy procedure.
Results: 192 cases belonged to the study age group and 48% (92 cases) of the cases were suicides. Majority of the
victims were between 17-18 years of age and belonged to lower middle socio-economic status.Family history of
suicide was seen in 1%. Hanging was the commonest method of suicide followed by poisoning and burns. Family
conflicts,Love failure, psychiatric disorder, financial problems, exam failure werefew reasonscompelling suicide.
Conclusion: Adolescence is a vulnerable age. Adequate addressal of increasing suicide rates among teenagers is
the need of the hour by increasing psycho-social awareness and implementing necessary regulations.
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