Suicides in northern India: causes, methods used and prevention.

Suicide patterns and rates differ in various populations and cultures. It has been reported that developing countries have lower suicide rates, possibly because of a lower level of environmental stress but the Indians have a very high suicide rate (Elfawal, 1999). The choice of method used to commit suicide depends on availability of means, knowledge about lethal effectiveness, and the victim's motivation and intent. The present work was designed to investigate the different methods of self-destruction, the age and gender susceptibility to suicide, the groups particularly affected and the underlying motivating factor for such an extreme step among the North Indians. Various suggestions relating to decreasing the tensions of the modern mechanical life-style, educating the public in general and the availability, use and storage of agrochemicals have been put forward. Marriage counselling and the concept of family planning are also advocated.