Sociocultural Context of Suicidal Behaviour in the Sundarban Region of India

Abstract EN

The role of mental illness in nonfatal deliberate self-harm (DSH) is controversial, especially in Asian countries.

This prospective study examined the role of psychiatric disorders, underlying social and situational problems, and triggers of DSH in a sample of 89 patients hospitalised in primary care hospitals of the Sundarban Delta, India.

Data were collected by using a specially designed DSH register, Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue (EMIC), and clinical interview.

Psychiatric diagnosis was made following the DSM-IV guidelines.

The majority of subjects were young females (74.2%) and married (65.2%).

Most of them (69.7%) were uncertain about their “intention to die, and pesticide poisoning was the commonest method (95.5%).

Significant male-female differences were found with respect to education level, occupation, and venue of the DSH attempt.

Typical stressors were conflict with spouse, guardians, or in-laws, extramarital affairs, chronic physical illness, and failed love affairs.

The major depressive disorder (14.6%) was the commonest psychiatric diagnosis followed by adjustment disorder (6.7%); however 60.7% of the cases had no psychiatric illness.

Stressful life situations coupled with easy access to lethal pesticides stood as the risk factor.

The sociocultural dynamics behind suicidal behaviour and community-specific social stressors merit detailed assessment and timely psychosocial intervention.

These findings will be helpful to design community-based mental health clinical services and community action in the region.