Taking stock -- what is known about suicide in Sri Lanka: a systematic review of diverse literature.
BACKGROUND
Suicide is and has been a major public health problem in Sri Lanka and has generated a wide range of literature.


OBJECTIVE
This review aimed to systematically appraise what is known about suicide in Sri Lanka. The patterns and content of articles were examined and recommendations for further research proposed.


METHODS
The paper describes the systematic search, retrieval, and quality assessment of studies. Thematic analysis techniques were applied to the full text of the articles to explore the range and extent of issues covered.


RESULTS
Local authors generated a large body of evidence of the problem in early studies. The importance of the method of suicide, suicidal intention, and the high incidence of suicide were identified as key foci for publications. Neglected areas have been policy and health service research, gender analysis, and contextual issues.


CONCLUSIONS
The literature reviewed has produced a broad understanding of the clinical factors, size of the problem, and social aspects. However, there remains limited evidence of prevention, risk factors, health services, and policy. A wide range of solutions have been proposed, but only regulation of pesticides and improved medical management proved to be effective to date.
<location>University of New South Wales & South Asian Clinical Toxicology Research Collaboration, Sydney, Australia</location>
Melissa
M
Pearson
<location>Global Health and Development, School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia</location>
Anthony B
AB
Zwi
<location>South Asian Clinical Toxicology Research Collaboration, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka</location>
Amanda K
AK
Rouse
<location>Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka</location>
Ravindra
R
Fernando
<location>Prince of Wales Hospital Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia</location>
Nicholas A
NA
Buckley
<location>Department of International Studies, School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia</location>
Duncan
D
McDuie-Ra
D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012106:Research; D012737:Sex Factors; D013188:Sri Lanka / Q000453:epidemiology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
self-poisoning; suicide; suicide prevention; systematic review