An Analysis of Suicide Attempters Versus Completers in Kerala

This study attempted to differentiate suicide attempters from completers based on their psycho-socio-demographic profile. Suicide attempters admitted to Govt. Medical College, Kozhikode during the period of 1st January to 31st December 2001 were evaluated using a specially designed proforma and for the same period, data of completers were collected using retrospective chart review. The parametric and non-parametric variables between these two groups were compared using appropriate statistics. Both attempters and completers in male gender were in the age of forties and females were in thirties. There was over representation of young females, married and housewives among the victims. In male and female victims, hanging was the commonest method followed by poisoning in males and self-immolation in females. Poisoning was the commonest mode in male attempters and drug over dose in females. Many of the differences in the psycho-socio-demographic profile of suicide attempters and completers reported from western countries could not be replicated in the present study. However comparison of our findings with studies from India and other developing countries shows many similarities.