Men more suicide-prone Print
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Wednesday, 18 March 2009 07:39

Wednesday March 18, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: Of the 113 suicide cases reported in the country in the second-half of 2007, 82 were men, including 41 who were married.

According to statistics compiled by the National Suicide Registry Malaysia, the most common reason believed to be the cause of suicide was unresolved problems with their wives. Other reasons cited by next of kin were financial problems, legal issues and job-related cases.

Of the 31 women who committed suicide, 16 were single.

NSRM principal investigator Dr Nor Hayati Ali told Bernama that women generally “could be talked out of committing suicide”.

The numbers were compiled through a coordinated effort involving the forensic departments in the Health Ministry’s hospitals. The NSRM was established in early 2007 to collect data on deaths due to “fatal intentional self-harm”.

Of the 113 suicide cases, 95 were Malaysian.

Among the Malaysians who committed suicide, Chinese accounted for the most number of cases at 43%, followed by Indians (27%) and Malays (11%).

Previously compiled data indicated that the incidence of suicide was highest among the Indian community despite the ethnic group’s relatively small number in the overall population.

“The suicide rate can only be calculated when we have data for a full year which the NSRM will be able to provide from the 2008 data,” she said.

Of the 113 documented cases, 73 happened at home.

Other common locations included farms, commercial buildings, schools, graveyards and roads.

On the methods of suicide, the NSRM data showed the most favoured way to end one’s life among Malaysians was hanging.

Over half the cases chose to end their lives by consuming pesticides or plunging from high spots.

“Hanging was the most common method chosen by the Chinese and Malays, with the second most common jumping down from high places.

“The Indians tend to use pesticides,” Dr Nor Hayati said.

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/3/18/nation/3499026&sec=nation