Analysis of suicidal asphyxial deaths in Kota, the coaching city of India

Abstract

Analysis of suicidal deaths in an area reflects the socioeconomic and mental health status of the population, which inherits medico legal implications. Suicidal asphyxiation is one of the common methods of committing suicide. The study included 372 (11.5%) cases  of suicidal asphyxiation in Kota city. Hanging and drowning were reported as common methods to commit suicides. The most  commonly affected age group was 21years to30 years, which contributed to about 35.4% of total suicidal asphyxial deaths. Males were  more commonly involved (79%). Educational stress was the main reason to commit suicide, and included 107 cases contributing to  29% of the total asphyxial suicidal deaths.