Fatal deliberate self-harm in adolescents- a Manipal perspective

An autopsy study of fatal deliberate self-harm in adolescents (10-19 years) was undertaken in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, South India, over a period of 5 years (2005 to 2009). Nearly four percent (31 cases) of the total unnatural deaths in whom autopsy was conducted at our mortuary were due to suicide in adolescent age group, which formed the material for the present study. Adolescents in the age group 15-19 years predominated. Females outnumbered males. Poisoning was the most common method employed to commit suicide. Organophosphorous poison was consumed in overwhelming majority of the cases. Disgust in life was the motive in nearly one third of the cases. Deaths occurred more during the day time and inside the house during the summer months.