Suicide in Sri Lanka: Reflections and ways forward

Abstract

In 2022, Sri Lanka had a suicide rate of 15/100,000, well above the global average. The most common method of suicide was by hanging, with pesticides being the second common method. Among males, suicides were greatest among older males, with a significant upward trend in the numbers of suicide by hanging. In contrast, among females, suicide rates were highest among younger females (aged 17-25years). A myriad of factors, ranging from psychiatric morbidity to the economic downturn and domestic violence, may contribute towards suicide in Sri Lanka. In this context it is important to examine pragmatic and evidence-based strategies for suicide prevention, and some possible strategies are discussed in this article.