Suicide Rate-Patterns in Sri lanka a summary

Changing pattern of suicide in Sri Lanka
a summary by Hiranthi Munasinghe

Suicide Patterns in Sri Lanka (Up to 2022)

In the last three years (2020, 2021, and 2022), the suicide rate in Sri Lanka was 15.6 out of every 100,000 of the population.
For every successful suicide, there were 15 unsuccessful attempts during this period.
Sri Lanka ranked 30th globally in terms of suicide rates.
The suicide rate had declined from 2015 to 2019 but saw a notable increase in 2020, 2021, and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis.
The decline of the garment industry due to the pandemic contributed to increased suicides in the Gampaha District.

Historical Trends

Historical data reveals changing suicide methods over time.
Hanging was the most frequently used method between 1880 and 1950, with a predominantly male preference.
Drowning was the second most popular method in early Colonial Ceylon, mainly chosen by females.
Poisoning became more common in the mid-20th century, with the rise of pesticide use.
Organophosphorus chemical ingestion accounted for a significant portion of suicide attempts between 1987 and 1991.

(Incidence of suicide in Sri Lanka, 1880–2015. Arrows show timing of pesticide bans between 1984 and 2008)

Information on 2022/2023:

The suicide rate in Sri Lanka has significantly risen, particularly in 2022 and early 2023. There is concern among psychiatrists regarding the increase in suicides. moreover, data for the years 2022 and 2023 are currently unavailable. However, it's suggested that the suicide rate has increased, with a focus on the last four months. Economic difficulties such as the increased cost of living, unemployment, and instability are believed to be contributing to the rise in suicides. (https://economynext.com/sri-lankas-suicide-on-the-rise-after-worst-currency-crisis-118954/)

Comparison with South Asian Countries (2019):

In 2019, Sri Lanka had the highest suicide rate in South Asia at 14.0 per 100,000 population.
Other SAARC countries had varying suicide rates: Afghanistan (4.1), Bangladesh (3.7), Bhutan (4.6), India (12.7), Maldives (2.7), Nepal (9.0), and Pakistan (8.9).

Global Perspective (2019)

(https://centrepsp.org/media/news/sri-lankan-suicide-rate-stable-during-pandemic)

A study in Sri Lanka examined suicide rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fewer people presented to hospitals due to self-poisoning during lockdowns.
Surprisingly, the study found that the overall suicide rate in Sri Lanka did not increase during the pandemic.
Suicide deaths mainly followed established national trends, with an exception of an increase in hanging suicides.
This contrasts with trends in high-income countries, where pandemic-related stressors were linked to increased mental health issues.
Continued vigilance is needed, as Sri Lanka was facing an economic crisis, though the study did not capture the peak of this crisis.

Recent Statistics (2022):

Around 3,000 cases of suicide were reported annually in Sri Lanka.
Approximately eight to nine cases of suicide were reported every day in the country.
In 2022, 2,833 males and 574 females committed suicide.

Factors Contributing to Suicide:

Migration and resettlement due to schemes like Gal Oya and Mahaweli led to destabilization of social structures, contributing to suicides.
Economic stress, gender dynamics, and family issues played roles in suicidal tendencies.
The suicide rate in Sri Lanka increased from 6.5 per 100,000 in 1950 to a peak of 47 per 100,000 in 1995 before gradually declining.
The government's actions, such as restricting toxic pesticides and decriminalizing suicide, contributed to the reduction in suicide rates.

Gender Differences and Mental Health Stigma

Men in Sri Lanka were more likely to commit suicide than women.
Men tend to choose more lethal methods and were less likely to seek help for emotional problems.
Cultural factors and male ego were identified as barriers to seeking help.
Family cohesion played a role in either protecting against or exacerbating suicidal tendencies.

Need for data-driven analysis

The main takeaway is that accurate data and research are essential for understanding the true extent of the suicide problem in Sri Lanka and identifying the underlying factors. This emphasis on data-driven analysis is crucial for addressing the complex issue of suicide effectively.

Lack of Accurate Data: The article highlights the importance of accurate and up-to-date data in understanding the true extent of the suicide problem.
Complex Causes: Suicide is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors, making it challenging to pinpoint a single cause.
Multifactorial Nature: Researchers use multivariate analysis and time series approaches to study suicide, considering various factors and their interactions.
Data Sources: Suicide researchers in Sri Lanka often rely on police data, as many suicides occur in the community, and quality hospital records may be limited.
Reducing Suicide Rates: Sri Lanka has significantly reduced its suicide rate, primarily attributed to the ban on toxic pesticides, which has saved many lives.
Ongoing Challenges: Despite progress, Sri Lanka still faces challenges related to suicide, especially among young people, and a multisectoral approach is needed.
Media Reporting: The media plays a vital role in suicide prevention by adhering to ethical guidelines when reporting on suicides.
Lessons from the UK: The UK has ethical guidelines for media reporting on suicides, which Sri Lankan media could consider adopting.

Universal Recommendations

The research involved a door-to-door survey of 150,000 people in 54,000 households in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. During the research vulnerable populations at high risk of attempted suicide were identified: farmers, daily wage laborers, female-headed households, and foreign migrant households.

Recommendations are as follows: (https://www.bristol.ac.uk/policybristol/policy-briefings/preventing-suicide-sri-lanka/)

Adult and child educational support:

School and community settings should deliver a relationship and conflict resolution skills training programmes.
The Ministry of Social Empowerment, Welfare and Kandyan Heritage needs to increase its provision of scholarships/grants to children from poor families.
The Divisional Secretariats should deliver an adult education program on basic budgeting skills. Schools should also prioritise budgeting skills development.
Provision of vocational training should be increased to promote self-employment opportunities with small grants to facilitate this.

Mental health support:

Two public health campaigns to be conducted by the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders: first, focusing on mental health awareness and second, raising awareness of the effects of alcohol addiction.
The Department of Health, supported by non-governmental organisations, should develop a coordinated and easy to navigate package of services to support individuals facing financial and/or personal difficulties, and/or experiencing alcohol addiction in rural communities. This could include increasing number of trained lay community counsellors.
Monitoring and addressing economic and mental health challenges are essential moving forward (recommendation from a study that examined suicide rates during the COVID-19 pandemic).

References

https://www.dailymirror.lk/opinion/Changing-pattern-of-suicide-in-Sri-Lanka/172-264755
https://groundviews.org/2017/10/06/hype-and-reality-of-suicides-in-sri-lanka-need-for-data-driven-analysis/
https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-016-3961-5
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/policybristol/policy-briefings/preventing-suicide-sri-lanka/
https://centrepsp.org/media/news/sri-lankan-suicide-rate-stable-during-pandemic
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8208295/