Profile of Suicidal Poisoning Deaths: An Autopsy-Based Observational Study at a Tertiary Care Centre

ABSTRACT

Background: Suicide is a major public health and medicolegal problem, contributing substantially to preventable mortality worldwide. Autopsy-based studies provide valuable information regarding the demographic profile, methods of suicide, precipitating factors, and causes of death, thereby assisting in understanding the epidemiology of suicidal deaths and formulating preventive strategies.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive autopsy-based observational study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, during 2024–2025. A total of 100 confirmed suicidal deaths subjected to medicolegal autopsy were included. Data regarding sociodemographic characteristics, method of suicide, precipitating life events, autopsy findings, cause of death, and survival period were collected from postmortem reports, hospital and police records, and interviews with relatives, and analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Young adults aged 21–30 years constituted the largest group (37%), with males accounting for 78% of cases. Rural residents (52%), single individuals (53%), students and unemployed persons (26% each) were most commonly affected. Most suicides occurred at home (89%). Poisoning was the commonest method (58%), followed by hanging (38%). Love affair-related problems (26%), financial difficulties (23%), and academic failure (19%) were the leading precipitating factors. Shock (60%) and asphyxia (38%) were the principal causes of death, and most victims died within 24 hours of the suicidal act. Conclusion: Suicidal deaths predominantly affected young adult males and were strongly associated with psychosocial stressors, with poisoning and hanging being the principal methods. Strengthening mental health services, restricting access to highly lethal poisons, promoting community awareness, and improving medicolegal documentation are essential to reduce suicide-related mortality.

 Keywords: Suicide; Autopsy; Poisoning;Hanging; Forensic medicine; Epidemiology; Medicolegal investigation.