Exploring suicide trends in Jorhat, Assam: A systematic study

Background: Suicide is a growing public health concern in Assam, India, with Jorhat witnessing a notable increase in cases. Understanding socio-demographic patterns, methods used, and contributing factors is essential for targeted interventions. Objectives: The study aimed to examine suicide cases in Jorhat by analyzing socio-demographic characteristics, methods of suicide and probable causes of suicide. It also evaluated associations between suicide methods and variables such as age, gender and occupation. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted using autopsy data from Jorhat Medical College between January and December 2023. Data from 281 confirmed suicide cases were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to assess associations between demographic and behavioral factors with suicide methods. Results: Most victims were males (67.97%), aged 11–20 years (30.6%). Hanging (75.44%) was the predominant method. Economic distress (38.08%) and family conflicts (28.47%) were the leading causes. Statistically significant associations were observed between method of suicide and both age (p=0.032) and gender (p=0.045). Conclusion: Young males from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are most vulnerable. These findings emphasize the need for targeted suicide prevention strategies addressing economic, social, and mental health factors.