ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the corona virus pandemic, is an ongoing phenomenon caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Older people and those with underlying comorbidities like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, or cancer are more likely to develop serious illness. India reported its first case of COVID-19 on 30thJanuary 2020. Since that lakhs of persons have been infected with COVID-19 and thousands died in India as well. Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19 pandemic is a global challenge. It's just not limited to physical impact but also has serious mental, social and economic impacts all over the world. Self-harm and suicides are its extreme effects. Aim(s): To study and analyze the patterns of suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material(s) and Method(s): A retrospective autopsy-based analysis of suicidal deaths occurred during March 2020 and February 2021 was conducted in the department of Forensic medicine, Sri Venkateswara Medical College, Tirupati. A total of 897 autopsies were conducted, out of which 248 were suicides. Result(s): 248 cases of suicide were studied among them 182 were male and 66 were female. Majority of the deaths were due to hanging (94, 37.90%) followed by poisoning (61,24.59%). The most important contributing factor for suicide was domestic conflict/ violence (85,34.27%) followed by financial loss or loss of income (81,32.66%). Conclusion(s): This study reemphasizes the need of proactive responses to psychological health especially during events of stressful conditions like lock down and pandemic. Social, economic and public health response is necessary to prevent suicidal behavior. Copyright © 2022, Institute of Medico-legal Publication. All rights reserved.