Suicide Trends in Jordan in Correlation With the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Forensic Medicine Perspective

Abstract

Background This study aimed to examine the suicide trends among Jordanians who died by suicide before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and assess their correlation with demographic data, including gender, age, marital status, and the method used for suicide, from a forensic medicine perspective. Methodology This was a retrospective, observational, autopsy-based study. Of the 731 medicolegal autopsies performed at the Al-Hussein New Hospital at Al Salt City between 2017 and 2022, 41 confirmed cases of suicide were identified. Results The study indicated that 75% of the subjects committed suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic period, of whom 13% were children. The average age of those who died by suicide was 32.1 (SD = 12.2) years. Overall, 58.5% were single, 61.0% unemployed, and 53.7% had a mental illness. Males were four times more likely to commit suicide than females. Hanging represented 60.61% of all male suicides, followed by firearms (27.27%); however, females used poisoning. Around 60% and 25% of the study subjects were in the age group of 21-40 years and 41 and more, respectively. The study also identified a statistically significant association between gender, age, and the time of suicide (during COVID-19). The findings of this study could not confirm any association between suicide and mental illness, marital status, and employment status. Conclusions The suicide rate in Jordan increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is alarming that most of those who committed suicide were at a young age and in their productive years.

Autopsy-Based Study of Non-accidental Violent Neck Asphyxia in Jordan: A Retrospective Study

“…There has been a noticeable global rise in violence rates across all categories [13,14], with a notable surge in deaths from violent neck asphyxia, leading to a rise in hanging suicide rates as a preferred method [2,3]. Additionally, homicidal neck violence, specifically ligature strangulation and throttling, has become more prevalent, primarily in cases of domestic violence and sexual assaults [6][7][8].…”

“…However, the high frequency of medicolegal cases related to violent asphyxia via neck obstruction, in particular, necessitates further clinical and investigative concern. This high frequency is mainly related to the global increase in the rates of suicide by hanging [2,3], in addition to the noticeable rise in cases of domestic and sexual violence, in which asphyxia neck violence is considered one of the prime methods of murder [4,5].…”