Suicide by intentional ingestion of pesticides: a continuing tragedy in developing countries

Deliberate self-poisoning has become an increasingly common response to emotional distress in young adults, 1 and it is now one of the most frequent reasons for emergency hospital admission. In industrialized countries, the drugs that people commonly take in overdose-analgesics, tranquillisers, antidepressants 3are relatively non-toxic. The estimated case fatality for overdose in England, for example, is around 0.5%. Most individuals who self-harm do not intend to die. Studies carried out in industrialized countries have found that only 2% go on to commit suicide in the subsequent 12 months. n developing countries the situation is quite different. ] In rural China, for example, pesticides account for over 60%…

• WT
  Wellcome Trust

  Award: GR063560MA
• MR
  Medical Research Council