ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

Seventy five cases of attempted suicide were studied over a period of one and half years (from January 1996 to June 1997). The findings revealed that 85.4% cases were in the age group 15-54 years. Females (53.4%) and unmarried (52%) attempted suicide more often. House wives (32%) and students (28%) were the two commonest occupational categories involved. Organophosphorus compounds were consumed by a vast majority (74.7%) of the cases. Psychiatric disorder (46.7%), quarrel with spouse/in-laws (13.4%), quarrel with parents/sibs (12%) and failure in love (10.6%) were the most common causes of attempted suicide while no cause could be determined in 14.7% of the cases. A need to launch suicide preventive measures and restriction in the sale of organophosphorus compounds is stressed.