Psychosocial factors involved in first attempt suicide of young adults

The present study was conducted to assess the psychosocial risk factors & personality disorders in first attempt suicide individuals admitted in Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital, Tirunelveli. It was also intended to study the degree of suicide intent, stressful events they were under and their coping skills to overcome such stressor events. To sum up, it can be said that this study concurs with the finding of other studies in regard to predominance of adults in the age group between 17 & 24 years than the middle age adults of 25-34 years. Among the 30 cases, females of about 86% outnumbered males. There was more representation of single adults hailing from upper lower socio-economic sections, belonging to nuclear family of rural background. The occurrence was high in persons who were employed than unemployed. The persons with high suicide intent were also found to be under severe stress. Poisoning was found to be the most common method adopted by many attempters. Most common reason attributed for the suicide attempt was interpersonal problems within the family and the findings are similar to earlier studies. Two cases attempted suicide, after leaving a suicide note, among which one case was found to be having high suicide intent comparing others. The personality disorder more frequently encountered in this study of first attempt suicide was anankastic personality disorder than the borderline personality disorder which was often reported in repeated suicide attempts or deliberate self harm in many of the studies worldwide. The suicide intent score was comparatively more in persons with personality disorder than in persons with out personality disorder which was not statistically significant. The life events commonly met by the younger adults 17-24 age group were change in school, failure in exam, marriage, problems with in laws, pregnancy, unemployment, job related stress whereas spouse stops work, change in living conditions, minor mortgage were the life change events that were reported by the middle age adults of 25-34 years. The predominant coping mechanism adopted by the sample was problem based and emotion based than use of support