Investigation of the Demographic Characteristics and Mental Health in Self-Immolation Attempters

BACKGROUND: Self immolation is a heinous way to commit suicide which is mostly prevalent in individuals who attempt to escape a stressful situation and is considered as a strange and unusual method. OBJECTIVES: This study examined demographic characteristics and mental health in self immolation attempters in the city of Bandar Abbas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two groups are involved in this enquiry. A group of 30 participants who have committed self-immolation and the other consisting of 15 non-committers. To conduct the study, MMPI questionnaire of Minnesota was employed accompanied with demographic information and descriptive statistics as well as independent “t-test”. RESULTS: The research findings indicate that the self-immolation attempters were mostly among singles, females, low literates or illiterates, and housewives within the age group of 10-30 years old. According to the research there was a significant difference between two groups regarding personality characteristics and records of hypochondriasis, depression, psychopathic deviation, and hysteria. However no significant difference was observed between two groups regarding personality characteristics and paranoia, schizophrenia, psychasthrenia, and hypomania. CONCLUSIONS: Self-immolation should be considered as an important mental health problem by the authorities. Moreover, the government should plan to make families more aware in order to prevent self-immolation and also help to recognize the risk factors in this area.