Suicide metrics in Bangladesh

<p>S M Yasir Arafat</p>

Suicide metrics in Bangladesh

S M Yasir Arafat

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Bangladesh

: Int J Ment Health Psychiatry

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide is a public health problem too often neglected by researchers, health policy makers and the medical profession. Globally, approximately one million people kill themselves every year which represents a global mortality rate of 16 per 100,000. Objectives: It was aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of existing literatures reporting suicide rates, and other suicide metrics, in Bangladesh. Methods & Material: Search was done in PubMed, PubMed Central, Google Scholar and Bangla JOL with searching keywords ranging date from January 2000 to December 2015. Finally 13 articles were selected for review. Results: The average suicide rate was found 39.6/100000 population/year and most common method is hanging and poisoning with most prevalent age group is age under 40 years. More common in female, low socioeconomic condition with low literacy, in married persons, in housewives and discord with spouse is the most common associated factor. It is a criminal offence in Bangladesh; source of information is mainly police and forensic reports and nationwide survey is yet too conducted and there is no suicide surveillance strategy. Conclusion: Suicide is a neglected and under attended public health problem in Bangladesh with few research and paucity of literature. Nationwide survey conduction and establishment of national suicide surveillance is now a time demanded step.