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Psychological autopsy review on mental health crises and suicide among youth in P akistan
Author(s) -
Abdullah Mudassar,
Khalily Muhammad Tahir,
Ahmad Irshad,
Hallahan Brian
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
asia‐pacific psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.654
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1758-5872
pISSN - 1758-5864
DOI - 10.1111/appy.12338
Subject(s) - psychiatry , mental health , psychosocial , medicine , irritability , suicide prevention , aggression , poison control , clinical psychology , psychology , medical emergency , anxiety
Ascertaining putative sociodemographic and clinical causes for death by probable suicide can potentially help implement region‐specific strategies to reduce suicide rates. In this study, we wanted to investigate methods utilized and the psychosocial and mental health characteristics of youths (aged 12‐26 y) who died by probable suicide. Method We examined data from mental health clinical files and forensic reports and performed qualitative psychological autopsy interview from more than multiple sources for each youth who died by probable suicide between 1 May and 31 December 2015 in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. Results The two most common methods of probable suicide were by firearm use and self‐poisoning utilizing pesticides that were significantly associated with male and female gender, respectively. The most common mental health difficulties were major depressive disorder and harmful use of psychoactive substances. Other clinical features particularly evident included thoughts of self‐harm, irritability and aggression, low self‐esteem, treatment nonadherence, family dispute, and financial distress. Conclusion Efforts to reduce the ease of access to firearms and pesticides may potentially have a beneficial effect in reducing the suicide rate in this region of Pakistan.