Suicide Cases in Higher Education Institutions of Pakistan; Factors and Safety Implications

Abstract

Pakistan is an Islamic Country. Suicide and attempt of suicide are against the Islamic teachings and laws of the country. The reported cases are rare, but the actual scenario of unreported incidents may be different. Reasons for suicide may be variable but lead towards exclusion from the educational stream, creating a threatening environment, thereby leaving its impact on fellow students and faculty. Suicides are not confined to only students but also have ingress in faculty. This paper is a cross-case analysis of three suicide cases with students and faculty related to higher education institutions. A qualitative research paradigm is used with a mix of secondary data available through print and electronic media and primary data of self-interaction of researcher with affiliated people of surroundings. Data were analyzed using three-stage thematic analysis, i.e. coding, clustering, pattern recognition and final write-up. The paper endeavours to understand the reasons, complex risk factors and their implications on the overall functioning of the educational process in higher educational institutions. Significant findings included but were not restricted to the relation of suicides with ethnicity, societal acceptability, harassment, and gender discrimination. Factors in these findings may contribute to students' overall safety and security in attaining educational objectives