Analysis of Autopsy Finding in Suicidal Death

Abstract

Background: Suicide remains a pressing global public health issue, often driven by multifactorial causes including emotional distress, socioeconomic challenges, and undiagnosed psychiatric conditions. Autopsy-based evaluations provide essential data to understand the patterns and medico-legal implications of such deaths. Aim of the study: This study aimed to analyze autopsy findings in suicidal deaths with the goal of identifying demographic trends, methods of suicide, and underlying motives to inform targeted prevention strategies. Methods & Materials: This retrospective study reviewed 263 autopsy reports of confirmed suicidal deaths conducted within a year at Dhaka medical college hospital. Variables such as age, sex, education, marital status, occupation, method of suicide, motive, and place of death were analyzed using SPSS v26.0. Result: The highest prevalence of suicide was among individuals aged 26–30 years (59.70%). Gender distribution was equal. Poisoning (35.36%) and hanging (34.22%) were the most common methods, with emotional stress (37.26%) and financial problems (27.00%) identified as leading motives. Conclusion: Suicide predominantly affects young adults in their most productive years, with emotional and financial stress as key driving factors. This underscores the need for early mental health interventions and robust socio-psychological support systems.