Asian suicides

Attempted Suicides in Madras

This study pertains to eighty six suicide attempters. The findings indicated that in both sexes the peak age group was 15 - 20 years, followed by 21 - 25 years. Organophosphorous compounds were found to have been used by a large number of attempters. 23.25% of our sample had contemplated on this act even prior to this episode. Alcohol was found to be an important factor behind 10.46% of cases. ...

Preventing jailhouse suicides.

Psychiatric consultants to city and county jails are confronted with the challenge of preventing jailhouse suicides, a problem of national scope. Suicide prevention programs in jails must emphasize screening and identification, psychological support, observation, disarmament, clarity and consistency, and diagnosis, treatment, and/or hospitalization. Exactly how these principles are formulated a...

Better care, fewer suicides?

Does "isolation" cause jail suicides?

In their efforts to prevent suicides, psychiatrists who consult to jails face a terrible dilemma. Placing a suicidal inmate in a single cell to restrict access to harmful materials and instruments is a common practice. Yet, mental health authorities argue that isolating a suicidal inmate only fuels the flames of his self-destructive impulses. It behooves mental health professionals to advocate ...

Suicides and the lunar cycle.

The existence of lunar influence on the frequency of suicide is tested by means of a permutation test. A total of 897 suicide deaths reported by the Anatomical Forensic Institute of Madrid were analyzed by a permutation test, a direct application of Fisher's ideas. Noteworthy in this study are the testing method used and the accuracy of timing of the deaths. Both factors provide firm ground for...