GMCH study says: hanging most common method of suicide in UT
Vishav BhartiChandigarh, November 26, 2012
First Published: 00:55 IST(26/11/2012)
Last Updated: 01:02 IST(26/11/2012)
Data compiled by department of psychiatry of Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, has found that hanging is the most common method used by persons who committed suicide in Chandigarh in the recent past.
As many as 75 of the total 95 suicides (about 80%) reported in 2012 so
far involved suicide by hanging. Analysis of data of the past several years led to similar conclusions. The data was culled from police records, newspapers and verified with National Crime Records Bureau.
"The study found that the most common way to hang was with ceiling fan hook," said Dr BS Chavan, head, department of psychiatry, GMCH-32, who conducted this study.
Consumption of poisonous substance was the second most used method to commit suicide, followed by jumping from high-rise building, self-immolation and jumping in front of moving train and shooting.
"We have found that a large proportion of those who committed suicide hanged themselves with ceiling fans or hooks on the roof. The situation demands immediate intervention," said Dr Chavan.
"We are going to discuss the issue with civil engineering experts so that some way out could be planned. A hook should be able to bear only 20 to 30 kg weight, so that if somebody tries to hang himself/herself, it comes off and there is some time window for the intervention of family members," said Dr Chavan.
The study also came across the fact that the most common reason for persons to take the extreme step was depression, followed by alcohol addiction, stress-related reasons and interpersonal disputes.