Suicide in Youth: Shifting Paradigm

In today's scenario high occupational mobility, high ambition and desire for high standard of living is leading to high incidence of suicidal deaths. Nowadays suicidal gesture, attempted suicide & well successful suicide cases are seen in the society often on. A prospective cum retrospective study is carried out in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Hospital, Jaipur w.e.f. 2004- 2008. In this period out of total 627 autopsies performed, 223 were found as suicidal deaths. In these 223 cases, 88 cases ended their life by poisoning, rest of them in the decreasing order are as follows - Train Run-over (55), Hanging (43), Drowning (20), Alcohol (9), Burn (4), Celphos Poisoning (3), Insecticides Poisoning (1).

This clearly indicates that availability of highly lethal suicidal method and rate of suicide are interrelated. During the study we have found three new innovative methods of committing suicide. All three victims were pursuing their professional qualification and will be discussed in this study.