Abstract
Background The suicide rate in Sri Lanka decreased from 47.0/100,000 in 1995 to 19.6/100,000 in 2009 Aims To describe the age and sex specific suicide rate in Sri Lanka between 1995 and 2011. Methods Data on suicide was collected from records of the Sri Lanka Police. Population data on age and sex distribution was obtained from World Bank Database. Rates were calculated per 100,000 population. Time series analysis was carried out to identify trends of suicide over time. Results In 2011 the male suicide rate in was 34.8/100,0000 and female rate was 9.24/100,000. The male: female ratio was 3.76: 1. In the 10-19 year age group the female suicide rate was higher. The highest rate in females was in the 20-29 year age group and the highest rates in males were among the 50-59 year and > 60 year age groups. Conclusions The age distribution pattern of suicide has not changed from 1995 to2009. The decline in suicide rate among females is more than among males. Globally suicide rates are known to increase with age, a pattern seen among males in Sri Lanka but not among females. In females the highest rates were in the younger age groups similar to patterns in India and China. Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry Vol 3(2) December 2012 Page 7-11 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljpsyc.v3i2.5131
Highlights
The suicide rate in Sri Lanka peaked at 47.0 suicides per 100,000 population in 1995 [1]
This study examines the age and sex specific patterns of suicide in Sri Lanka during the period 1995-2011
During the period from 1995 to 2011 the rate of suicide was higher among males than among females
Summary
The suicide rate in Sri Lanka peaked at 47.0 suicides per 100,000 population in 1995 [1]. Before 1960, hanging was the commonest method of suicide in Sri Lanka. The other substances used in poisoning-related suicides include acids, plant poisons and medicinal drugs [4]. The main substance used in self poisoning currently is paracetamol and other medicinal drugs [6, 7]. This pattern is noted in both urban and rural areas [8, 9]. Methods Data on suicide was collected from records of the Sri Lanka Police. In the 10-19 year age group the female suicide rate was higher. The highest rate in females was in the 20-29 year age group and the highest rates in males were among the 50-59 year and > 60 year age groups
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