Citation

Senanayake SMHMK. Medicolegal J. Sri Lanka 2016; 4(1): e7335.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, College of Forensic Pathologists of Sri Lanka)

DOI

10.4038/mljsl.v4i1.7335

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Suicide pacts were usually reported in married couples, blood relatives and lovers. Survivors had shown that one member had been depressed. In above two cases also one member had a very strong reason for depression- large debt and loss of the child. Through internet websites rarely strangers have got together and had committed suicide in more numbers. Causes of suicide pacts were found as mental disorders, avoiding of loss partner from ill health, euthanasia and thwarted love. Victims of suicide pacts differed significantly from single suicides on several variables: tendency to use guns, leave suicidal notes, have blood alcohol levels, be older, be less depressed and to commit suicide in the morning hours. The world health organization revealed on 5th of September 2014 that instances of suicide were most prevalent in Guyana, North Korea, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Lithuania, Suriname, Mozambique and Nepal. Even though suicides are common in Sri Lanka among unmarried young people and old people, suicide pacts are very rare. During the 13 year service of the author only two suicide pacts were encountered out of 10200 postmortem examinations.

CONCLUSION Even though suicide is common in Sri Lanka among old persons and unmarried young persons, suicidal pacts are very rare. One incident is seen after several years in a district i.e. one incident per about 5000 postmortem examinations. They were seen in married, middle aged couples.

Language: en