title: Completed suicide among Sinhalese in Sri Lanka: a psychological autopsy study.
abstract: Sri Lanka has the one of highest rates of suicide. Important factors associated with suicide were determined via the psychological autopsy approach (which had not been carried out previously in Sri Lanka). Over a 3-month period, in a catchment area, 31 suicides among Sinhalese were identified and 27 were investigated. Males were more likely to commit suicide and alcohol abuse and domestic violence were reported as contributory factors. We found it possible to use psychological autopsy methods to obtain information which can inform planned prevention measures.
authors.affiliation: Community Medicine, Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Sudath
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samaraweera
authors.forename: Athula
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sumathipala
authors.forename: Sisira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siribaddana
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivayogan
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhugra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology; D002391:Catchment Area, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends; D003334:Coroners and Medical Examiners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D016495:Police / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012494:Sampling Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000208:ethnology; D013405:Suicide / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*