Attempted suicide are usually far more common in the younger age group of twenty to thirty-five years and in women than in men. In studies in Malaysia, the ratio of female attempted suicide to male was around 5:1 (Deva MP, 1990). Although the reporting of attempted suicide is often thought to be about a third less than the estimated number that actually occur, the number of attempted suicides being treated in hospitals has shown a dramatic increase in the past several decades. It is difficult to say if this is due to an actual increase in numbers attempting suicide or a result of better medical and social services as well as greater awareness of curative medicine among the population. Although occuring commonly in young age, in later age, the incidence of attempted suicide drops sharply. Other factors that affect suicidal attempts are higher rates for single as opposed to married men and women. Higher rates are also noted among Indians compared to chinese and very low rates for Malays presumably because of religious factors. Economic factors such as unemployment, inflation and recession also appear to be important factors in attempted suicides.
A study of suicide in Singapore showed a rate of about 10 per 100,000 population with an increase in rate after 50 years and a preponderance of men in the older age group. Comparing the three ethnic groups, a higher rate was seen in the Indians and chinese, whereas the Malays had the lowest. The most common method of suicide was jumping from high rise flats (Kua EH,Tsoi WF,1985). The suicide rate in the general population is quite similar to statistics in the United Kingdom, although for the elderly people the rate is higher in Singapore. The rate in Malaysia is 10-11 per 100,000 population (Deva MP, 1990).
Regarding in-patient suicides, studies are scarce but one study indicates that the rate is 1.5-2 per year for mental patients in institutions. The suicides were more common in young Chinese male patients from the lower socioeconomic group. The main reasons for suicide were interpersonal conflicts and physical illness. Alcohol was not an important factor unlike patients in the West. Many were commited during the early hours of the morning and in unaccessible places within the hospital (Azhar MZ, 1991).
Another interesting
aspect is the attempted suicide in children which is surprisingly high
in a certain part of Malaysia. A survey done in the UKM Child Psychiatry
clinic from January 1986 to January 1990 only had five cases of children
between the ages of 10 and 12 years old (Kasmini, 1992). However, another
study done in the highland state of Pahang where the main occupation is
vegetable growing, there were 28% cases of attempted suicides and 46% of
these were by those between the ages of 10 to 19 years old. The reason
postulated was mainly interpersonal conflicts between them and their parents
or between them and their lovers. The population was predominantly Indians
and availability of weed killers were said to be additional factors (Maniam,1988).
A further evaluation of the data shows that for children between the ages
of 10 to 14 years old, the rate was 40 per 100,000 in males and 30 per
100,000 in females while the suicide rate was 30 per 100,000 in males and
18 per 100,000 in females. These rates are extremely high when compared
to other studies done anywhere else.
It is said that
religion could be a factor that keeps the rate of attempted suicide and
suicide low in Malay patients. This is probably so because the same has
been said about the Catholics as opposed to the Protestants. The reason
given in most studies seems to point to the fact that the Catholics are
more closely held together, they are more cohesive and that seems to explain
their strength in avoiding suicide. The same reason cannot entirely be
said about the Muslim Malays. They are now becoming more nuclear in their
behaviour and attitutes. However for most Malays whenever they are faced
with severe problems or conflicts, they return to religion to find help
and in such times they are bound to follow religious instructions almost
without question and in Islam no matter what sins you have done other than
worshiping other than God, you can be forgiven for God is Forgiving and
Merciful however you must repent while you are alive and the act of killing
oneself negates you of that chance. Also the act of killing oneself is
a very serious offense and since one is dead, then there is no more chance
of repenting. No matter how disturbed a person is he usually has some insight
to recall this very important information and this helps to prevent one
from taking ones life even in the worst of circumstances.
PERSIKOL is always ready to aid anyone with problems associated with suicide.
References.
Azhar MZ (1991) Profile
of in-patient suicides in two hospitals in Malaysia, Med. Journal
of Malaysia, 46,2, 171-176
Deva MP (1990) Suicide
and suicidal attempts, In A Brief Outline of Clinical
Psychological Medicine, Ophir Medical Specialists Sdn. Bhd. Publishers,
134-154.
Kasmini K (1992)
Gangguan afektif, In Psikiatri Kanak Kanak, Dewan Bahasa &
Pustaka Publishers, 105-119
Kua EH, Tsoi WF (1985)
Suicidal behaviour in Singapore, Acta Psychiatrica
Scandinavica, 71, 226-229
Maniam T (1988) Suicide
and parasuicide, hillside resort in Malaysia, British Journal of
Psychiatry ,1153,222-225