Profile of Suicide Deaths in the Philippines from 2004-2008

ABSTRACT

Objective@#The study was conducted to describe the demographic characteristics and methods of suicide deaths from 2004-2008.@*Methodology@#This was a descriptive study of the profile of suicide deaths in the Philippines, based from the records of the Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Philippines. Records of cases of suicide deaths confirmed by the P P Crime Laboratory between the dates of January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2008 were collected including age, sex, and mode of suicide. @*Results@#There were a total of 135 records of suicide deaths that were accessed. Among the 135 subjects, 86 (63.71 %) were males and 49 (36.29%) were females at a ratio of 1.7 1. Subjects' age ranged from 8-80 years. Seventy four cases (54.81 %) of total cases belonged to the 20-40 year old age group, followed by the 41-64 yearold age group with 45 cases or 33.33% of total cases. Twelve subjects (8.88%) of total cases belonged to the 8-19 year-old age group, and 4 subjects or 2.96% of total cases belonged to the 65-80 age bracket. No cases were recorded below 7 years old and above 80 years old. One hundred twenty one of 135 total number of cases (89.62%) resorted to hanging themselves while 8 (5.92% ) used firearms to kill themselves. Five (3.71 %) jumped from high places and 1(0.75%) died of chemical ingestion.@*Conclusion@#The study showed that majority of suicide deaths belonged to the 20-40 year-old age group and more suicide deaths occurred among males. As to age distribution by sex, most deaths occurred among the 20-40 year-old age group for both sexes. Lastly, hanging was noted to be the leading mode of suicide among the subjects.