Suicidal Hanging Pattern: a Retrospective Review

Suicide is one of the ten leading causes of death in the world (> 400,000 deaths annually). The pattern of suicide and the incidence of suicide vary from country to country and cultural, religious and social values play important role in suicide. Our study's objective is to describe the epidemiology and pattern of suicide by hanging, in central region of Delhi. This five-year (1st January, 2006 to 31st December, 2010) retrospective study is carried out in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi. Total 550 (19.89%) deaths of suicide by various means and out of total, 129 (23.45%) deaths were due to hanging. The highest number of suicide by hanging (n=45 cases, 34.88%) was in the age group of 21 to 30 years in both genders. The least number of hangings (n=7, 5.4%) deaths were in those over 50 years. Males (n= 96, 74.41%) outnumber females. The ratio of male to female suicide is 2.9:1. Peak hangings were in July and August (n= 33 cases, 25.58%) and least in May (5 cases, 3.8%). Maximum numbers of suicides were during morning hours (6-10 am) constituted 37 deaths (28.68%).