SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AS A FUNCTION OF PSYCHOSOCIAL RISK FACTORS IN PAKISTAN

The present research was designed to study the psychosocial risk factors of suicidal behavior in Pakistan. It was hypothesized that a person who experiences a higher level of stress to various psychosocial stressors appears more vulnerable to suicidal behavior than the person who does not experience the same level of stress. In order to study the psychosocial risk factors a structured in, review, Suicide probability Scale (SPS) and a socio/societal scale for measuring psychosocial problems were administered.A sample of 144 subjects comprising of suicidal (male and female) and non-suicidal (male and female) was studied. Seventy-two (72) suicidal subjects (male and female) along with emergency patients attempting suicide and Seventy-two (72) non-suicidal (male and females) were assessed. The sample was collected from the various clinics and hospitals of the Karachi city.A chi-Square test of independence was applied for the statistical analysis of the data. Inter-Rater reliability was also checked statistically.Obtained results supports the assumptions that suicidal subjects including both male and female tend to experience a higher level of stress; hopelessness; negative self-evaluation; hostility; suicidal indication: low achievement motivation; more family problems; low peer relationships, and higher societal pressures than the non-suicidal subjects (male and female). While non-suicidal subjects (male and female) normal rend to experience lower level of stress; hopelessness; suicidal indication; negative self-evaluation; higher peer relationship; lesser family problems and lesser socio/societal pressures. Avenues for further research have also been suggested