Characteristics of attempted suicide patients admitted in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital from January 2014 to September 2018

Introduction: Attempted suicide is a major public health problem with a prevalence rate of approximately 2.7% worldwide. There is an increasing trend of attempted suicide in Bhutan. It is a strong clinical predictor of eventual suicide deaths and results in significant use of health care resources....

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Main Authors: Zimba Letho, Neyzang Wangmo, Kuenzang Kuenzang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bh 2021-06-01
Series:Bhutan Health Journal
Online Access:https://bhj.com.bt/index.php/bhj/article/view/164
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author Zimba Letho
Neyzang Wangmo
Kuenzang Kuenzang
author_facet Zimba Letho
Neyzang Wangmo
Kuenzang Kuenzang
author_sort Zimba Letho
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Attempted suicide is a major public health problem with a prevalence rate of approximately 2.7% worldwide. There is an increasing trend of attempted suicide in Bhutan. It is a strong clinical predictor of eventual suicide deaths and results in significant use of health care resources. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of attempted suicide patients admitted in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital from January 2014 to September 2018. Methods: This descriptive record review analyzed 72 clinical records of attempted suicide patients. The characteristics of attempted suicides are described using detailed illness history of patients who were admitted in the psychiatric and medical wards. Results: The result showed a higher rate of attempted suicide in females (56.9 %) and highest in the age range between 21 and 30 years. The percentage of patients from the western region of the country was higher (48.6%). The median duration of hospital stay was 5 days (range 1-74). There was a slightly higher number of attempted suicide admissions in the cold season. Pre-existing mental health disorders, mostly depressive disorder, was the major underlying cause of attempted suicide (55.5%). The predominant method used for attempted suicide was self-poisoning on medication (76.3%) with the common medicine being Paracetamol. Conclusions: To prevent attempted suicide and eventual suicide, there is a need to strengthen early detection of depressive illnesses and regulate the accessibility of over-the-counter drugs like Paracetamol.
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spelling doaj.art-408e68461911498598c951d1d93cb4032023-10-25T09:31:41ZengKhesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of BhBhutan Health Journal2413-29932415-11142021-06-01711410.47811/bhj.112165Characteristics of attempted suicide patients admitted in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital from January 2014 to September 2018Zimba Letho0Neyzang Wangmo1Kuenzang Kuenzang2Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital, Thimphu, BhutanMedical Education Center for Research, Innovation and Training, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing and Public Health, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan Introduction: Attempted suicide is a major public health problem with a prevalence rate of approximately 2.7% worldwide. There is an increasing trend of attempted suicide in Bhutan. It is a strong clinical predictor of eventual suicide deaths and results in significant use of health care resources. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of attempted suicide patients admitted in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital from January 2014 to September 2018. Methods: This descriptive record review analyzed 72 clinical records of attempted suicide patients. The characteristics of attempted suicides are described using detailed illness history of patients who were admitted in the psychiatric and medical wards. Results: The result showed a higher rate of attempted suicide in females (56.9 %) and highest in the age range between 21 and 30 years. The percentage of patients from the western region of the country was higher (48.6%). The median duration of hospital stay was 5 days (range 1-74). There was a slightly higher number of attempted suicide admissions in the cold season. Pre-existing mental health disorders, mostly depressive disorder, was the major underlying cause of attempted suicide (55.5%). The predominant method used for attempted suicide was self-poisoning on medication (76.3%) with the common medicine being Paracetamol. Conclusions: To prevent attempted suicide and eventual suicide, there is a need to strengthen early detection of depressive illnesses and regulate the accessibility of over-the-counter drugs like Paracetamol.https://bhj.com.bt/index.php/bhj/article/view/164
spellingShingle Zimba Letho
Neyzang Wangmo
Kuenzang Kuenzang
Characteristics of attempted suicide patients admitted in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital from January 2014 to September 2018
Bhutan Health Journal
title Characteristics of attempted suicide patients admitted in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital from January 2014 to September 2018
title_full Characteristics of attempted suicide patients admitted in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital from January 2014 to September 2018
title_fullStr Characteristics of attempted suicide patients admitted in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital from January 2014 to September 2018
title_full_unstemmed Characteristics of attempted suicide patients admitted in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital from January 2014 to September 2018
title_short Characteristics of attempted suicide patients admitted in Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital from January 2014 to September 2018
title_sort characteristics of attempted suicide patients admitted in jigme dorji wangchuck national referral hospital from january 2014 to september 2018
url https://bhj.com.bt/index.php/bhj/article/view/164
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AT neyzangwangmo characteristicsofattemptedsuicidepatientsadmittedinjigmedorjiwangchucknationalreferralhospitalfromjanuary2014toseptember2018
AT kuenzangkuenzang characteristicsofattemptedsuicidepatientsadmittedinjigmedorjiwangchucknationalreferralhospitalfromjanuary2014toseptember2018