Introduction:
Suicide is one of the major causes of death in the whole world. According to WHO, suicide is defined as the ‘’act of intentionally killing oneself’’. Around the world, every 40 seconds, one complete suicide is attempted. 5% of the world’s population tried to commit suicide once in a lifetime. Out of which 79% are from low-economy countries.
Pakistan is an Islamic state where suicide is considered an illegal act both according to religion and society; therefore rate of suicides in Pakistan is much less as compared to many other countries. Pakistan does not provide its own official statistical data on suicide nor the data reported to WHO. However, according to some unofficial sources like private NGOs, journals, non-governmental organizations, and research centres rate of suicide in Pakistan increased by 0.1% from the year 2000 to 2019.
Risk factors of suicide in Pakistan depend on gender differences. Suicide is a multi-dimensional disorder that depends upon various biological, religious, psychological, environmental and economic factors. Gender difference is noted in various factors of suicide.
Risk factors involving more suicidal rates in females:
The main factors involved are
1. domestic violence
2. a mental disorder
3. marriage
4. psychiatric morbidity
These are the main causes of greater suicide rates in females. According to a research study, suicides due to mental illness in females is 26-60% while in males is 10-33%.
Various sub-factors are
Unhappy marriages, male dominance, physical abuse by spouse or inlaws, incompatible spouse, divorce, stress of single parent, delayed marriage, anxiety, depression, society pressure, previous suicide attempts, child abuse, sexual violence, religious or cultural barriers
Risk factors involving more suicidal rates in males:
The main factors involved are
1. unemployment
2. low socioeconomic class of society
3. education
4. chronic illness
These are some main causes of greater suicide rates in males. According to a research study, suicides due to unemployment in males is 4-39%.
Various sub-factors are
Umeplyment for a long duration, not getting the desired job, family financial stress, poor academic performance, failure in love, the harsh attitude of teachers, ragging, poverty, fear of low standards in society, social isolation, aggressiveness, prolonged or serious illness, competition with colleagues.
Some more common factors involved in greater suicide rates in Pakistan gathered from different research works and published articles are as follows:
Modes of suicides in Pakistan:
Studies revealed some common modes of suicides in Pakistan, which are as follows, with the rate of confirmed death as 100% by hanging, 77% by jumping, 40% by wrist cutting, 13.2% by poisoning, and 1.5% by drug overdose.
