Risk Factors for Farmers' Suicides in Central Rural India: Matched Case-control Psychological Autopsy Study

Overview

Journal Indian J Psychol Med

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2016 Dec 30

PMID 28031593

Citations 16

Authors

Manik Changoji Bhise

Prakash Balkrushna Behere

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Despite more than two decades since recognition of suicides by farmers in India, systematic studies comparing various risk factors are lacking. This is major hurdle for the formulation of strategies for farmers' suicide prevention.

Objective: To identify socioeconomic and psychological risk factors and their relative contribution in suicides by farmers.

Materials And Methods: A matched case-control psychological autopsy was done on 98 farmers' suicide victims and 98 controls in Central India.

Results: Economic problems, psychiatric illness, and stressful life events were found to be important contributors to farmers' suicides. Important economic risk factors were procurement of debt, especially from multiple sources and for nonagricultural reasons and leasing out farms. Psychiatric illness was present significantly in higher proportion among cases than controls. Crop failure, interpersonal problems, medical illness, and marriage of female family member were significant stressful life events.

Conclusions: There are socioeconomic and psychological risk factors for suicide by farmers which can be targets of prevention policy.

Citing Articles

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Kumar P, Suresh R Ind Psychiatry J. 2024; 33(Suppl 1):S23-S28.

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The Role of Socioeconomic Position in the Association Between Mental Disorders and Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Chen D, Ejlskov L, Laustsen L, Weye N, Sorensen C, Momen N JAMA Psychiatry. 2023; 81(2):125-134.

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Depression and suicidal behavior in South Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

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Prevalence and factors associated with suicidal ideation among farmers.

de Oliveira Santos E, Vedana K, Barbosa I PLoS One. 2022; 17(9):e0273625.

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