Suicidal deaths in depth-Eastern Province-Saudi Arabia

Abstract Suicide is a multifaceted phenomenon often comprising the collaboration of a number of different risk factors, including psychiatric illnesses and adverse life events occurring during the course of the life. Suicide has a great public health effect. Suicide ranks among the top ten causes of death among individuals of all age groups in most developed countries. Objective To investigate suicidal deaths, over a period of two years in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Methods A retrospective study was carried out on 145 suicide cases examined at the Forensic Medicine Center in Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, since start of January 2012 till end of December 2013. Results Of the investigated 145 suicidal cases, 122 (84.1%) were males and 23 (15.9%) were females, and the ratio of the males to females was 5.3:1. Around 38.6% of the studied subjects were in their third decade. The largest percentage of suicides were among non-Saudis (116, 80%), and the highest is the Indian population (65, 45%), followed by Saudi nationals (29, 20%). Suicide by hanging was the most common method (110, 75.9%). The highest incidence of cases was encountered in Dammam ( N  = 48, 33%) followed by Khobar, Jubail and Qatif with equal number of fatalities per each region ( N  = 19, 13%). Conclusion In conclusion, extensive socio-demographic variability exists across different suicidal cases. Acknowledgement of this variability may help to tailor prevention efforts in different parts of the world.