Characteristics, methods and precipitating events of suicidal behaviors in Bangladesh: A year-round content analysis of six national newspapers

Abstract

Background

Epidemiological aspect of suicidal behaviors is an under-researched matter in Bangladesh.

Objectives

It was aimed to see the characteristics, methods and precipitating events of suicidal behaviors by analyzing the contents of national daily newspapers of Bangladesh.

Methods

We analyzed the published contents of six daily newspapers that were collected and hand-searched between 01 November 2018 and 31 October 2019. A total of 403 articles were collected and subsequently analyzed.

Results

The mean age of suicide victims reported in these newspapers was 25.81 ± 11.62 years (Range: 8–80 years). More than fifty percent of the reported cases were less than 30 years of age, 55.6 % were female, 33.25 % were students, and 48.4 % were married. Hanging was found as the commonest method (76 %) and marital discords (14.89 %), familial discords (9.68 %), sexual issues (9.18 %), affair related issues (5.71 %), were found as the mentionable precipitating events. Year-round tracing of suicides based on the reports revealed peaks in April and November.

Conclusion

The study showed adults less than thirty years, females, and students are exhibiting more suicidal behaviors. Hanging was the most commonly used method and the majority of the precipitating events were within the family.