Autopsy-Based Study of Suicidal Deaths Among the Elderly Conducted at Victoria Hospital Mortuary.

Abstract

Background: Suicide is the act of deliberately killing oneself and it is a significant cause of death in all age groups ⁽¹⁾. When comparing the number of attempted and completed suicides, older people have a more significant number of successful suicide than any other age group worldwide ⁽²⁾. 'National Policy on Older Persons'- 1999 defines 'elderly' or ‘senior citizen’ as a person of age 60 years or above ⁽³⁾. NCRB 2020 reported that around 13,126 older people per 100,000 population committed suicide in India ⁽⁴⁾. 

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the demographic characteristics, psychological, and etiological factors associated with elderly suicides, and evaluate the methods used by individuals in this age group to end their lives.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Victoria Hospital Mortuary over 18 months (February 2021 to July 2022). Out of 397 autopsies in the study age group, 67 cases of suicide were included based on the inclusion criteria. Information was collected from police reports, family members, and suicide notes, followed by a detailed analysis of autopsy findings.

Results: The study revealed that 77.6% of the victims were male, with the majority falling within the 60-64 age group (40.3%). Hanging was the most common method of suicide (50.7%), followed by poisoning (34.3%). Key contributing factors included psychiatric disorders, predominantly depression (53.73%), chronic physical illness (46.27%), and social isolation or loneliness (32.84%).

Conclusion: Elderly suicide is a multifactorial issue, with psychological distress, chronic illness, and social isolation being the primary contributors. Effective prevention strategies should include early mental health interventions and social support systems tailored to the needs of the elderly.