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Suicide and Parasuicide in a Hill Resort in Malaysia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

T. Maniam
T. Maniam*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, National University of Malaysia, Jalan Rqja Muda, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Abstract

Ninety-five cases of suicide and 134 cases of parasuicide that occurred between October 1973 and September 1984 in the hill resort district of Cameron Highlands in Malaysia were analysed. Eighty-one per cent of suicides and 78% of parasuicides were of Indians, although they only form 25% of the population. The average annual suicide rate for Indians (over 10 years of age) was 157 per 100000. About 94% of suicides and 66% of parasuicides were by ingesting agricultural poisons. The age- and sex-specific suicide rates for women were highest in the 20–24-year-old age group. Some possible reasons for high suicide rates among Indians are discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 153 , Issue 2 , August 1988 , pp. 222 - 225
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1988 

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