Suicide and deliberate self-harm in Afghanistan

Mohammad Akbar Paiman; Murad Moosa Khan

doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2017.01.004

Suicide and deliberate self-harm in Afghanistan

Asian J Psychiatr. 2017 Apr:26:29-31. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2017.01.004. Epub 2017 Jan 17.

Authors

Mohammad Akbar Paiman¹, Murad Moosa Khan²

Affiliations

¹ General Directorate of Preventive Medicine, Ministry of Public Health, Kabul, Afghanistan. Electronic address: Akbar.paiman@gmail.com.
² Dept. of Psychiatry, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.

PMID: 28483086
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2017.01.004

Abstract

Background: Suicide and deliberate self-harm (DSH) are major public health problems globally. There is limited information on suicide and DSH from Afghanistan.

Aims: To review available literature on suicide and DSH in Afghanistan.

Methods: Using online resources and literature on suicidal behavior (suicide, DSH and suicidal ideation) was searched.

Results: There were only seven published studies identified on suicidal behavior in Afghanistan. Six of these have been published since 2003 and majority has focused on suicidal behavior in women.

Conclusions: Both DSH and suicide are underreported and understudied subjects in Afghanistan. There is need for more research in this area.

Keywords: Afghanistan; Deliberate self-harm; Self-immolation; Suicide.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Afghanistan / epidemiology
Female
Humans
Incidence
Male
Risk Factors
Self-Injurious Behavior / epidemiology*
Self-Injurious Behavior / psychology
Sex Factors
Suicidal Ideation
Suicide / psychology
Suicide / statistics & numerical data*
Suicide, Attempted / psychology
Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data*