Age and sex specific suicide rates in Sri Lanka from 1995-2011

Abstract

Background The suicide rate in Sri Lanka decreased from 47.0/100,000 in 1995 to 19.6/100,000 in 2009 Aims To describe the age and sex specific suicide rate in Sri Lanka between 1995 and 2011. Methods Data on suicide was collected from records of the Sri Lanka Police. Population data on age and sex distribution was obtained from World Bank Database. Rates were calculated per 100,000 population. Time series analysis was carried out to identify trends of suicide over time. Results In 2011 the male suicide rate in was 34.8/100,0000 and female rate was 9.24/100,000. The male: female ratio was 3.76: 1. In the 10-19 year age group the female suicide rate was higher. The highest rate in females was in the 20-29 year age group and the highest rates in males were among the 50-59 year and > 60 year age groups. Conclusions The age distribution pattern of suicide has not changed from 1995 to2009. The decline in suicide rate among females is more than among males. Globally suicide rates are known to increase with age, a pattern seen among males in Sri Lanka but not among females. In females the highest rates were in the younger age groups similar to patterns in India and China. Sri Lanka Journal of Psychiatry Vol 3(2) December 2012 Page 7-11 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljpsyc.v3i2.5131