Age and sex specific suicide rates in Sri Lanka from 1995-2011

The suicide rate in Sri Lanka peaked at 47.0 suicides per 100,000 population in 1995 (1). Since then the overall rate has fallen by more than half in 2009 to 19.6 per 100,000 (2). The methods of suicide have changed over time. Before 1960, hanging was the commonest method of suicide in Sri Lanka. In the 1960s ingestion of acetic acid became prominent (3). Since the 1980’s the commonest mode of suicide has been pesticides. Organophosphate and carbamate pesticides are the commonest types of pesticides used in self poisoning. The other substances used in poisoning-related suicides include acids, plant poisons and medicinal drugs (4). Other methods used in suicide are burns, hanging, jumping in front of a train and drowning (5). Although the rate of hospital admissions due to poisoning have increased between 1996-2008, admissions due to pesticide poisoning have decreased (2). 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).