Suicide Patterns in Northern Pakistan: A 10-Year Analysis of Police Records from Three Districts of Gilgit-Baltistan

Introduction: Police records are an important resource in absence of a national suicide database in the context of Pakistan. We studied suicides reported across three districts of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB); causes, patterns of suicidal behaviors, and classification processes. Methods: A retrospective survey of police records from GB between 2012 and March 2022 was completed using a structured questionnaire that included demographic characteristics, possible causes, and forensic details. Descriptive statistics and a chi-square test of association were applied. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad (IRB 0210-22). Results: In total, 340 cases of suicides were registered. Among them, 53% (n = 179) were females, 59% (n = 202) unmarried and 40% (n = 136) below 20 years of age. Stress and mental illnesses were reported in 73% (n = 247) cases. Common methods of suicide were hanging (41%; n = 141) and firearms (25%; n = 85). More men compared to women attempted suicide by firearms while more women died by drowning or poisoning. Greater proportion of individuals who were unmarried and had formal education died by suicide compared to their demographic counterparts. Number of individuals having a “mental illness” was higher in men while significantly more women were affected by “domestic stressors.” Seven (2.9%) cases reported between 2021 and 2022 were reclassified as homicides. Conclusion: Suicide is more common among females compared to males, unmarried compared to married, and younger population compared to older population. Cases reclassified as homicide highlight the need for rigorous forensic inquiry of each suicide. Development of effective suicide prevention strategies is urgently required.