Abstract
This was a retrospective study on intentional self-harm among patients at
Khoksamrong Hospital in the years 2004-2006. The patients were those who intentionally
attempted suicide but survived, and who were brought to Khoksamrong Hospital
for treatment. Data were collected using a standard form for depression and a self-harm
surveillance system (report 506.DS) and a form to collect data from death certificates
( M.B.1.). Women comprised the majority of the cases (64.17%), married persons (58.33%)
and laborers (49.17%). Most of them (96.67%) had attempted suicide for the first time.
Common precipitating causes (48.33%) were “personal conflicts with a close person and
love affair problems.” A common self-harm method was “ingesting a sedative” (21.67%).
Of eight cases who died among the 120 suicidal patients hospitalized, the youngest was
25 years old and the oldest 70 years old. The most common stimulating event among the
cases of mortality were “personal conflicts with a close person and love affair problems.”
The most common method of committing suicide was “drinking chemical agents.” Of the
29 cases dead on arrival at the hospital, 17 were males and 12 were females, and 31.03
percent were aged 30-39 years. The most common methods were hanging (58.62%), following
by drinking chemical agents (31.03%). It is apparent that men used more aggressive
methods than women.
