Chowdhury, A. N.Banerjee, S.Brahma, A.Hazra, A.Weiss, Mitchell2015-09-282013Chowdhury, A. N., S. Banerjee, A. Brahma, A. Hazra, and M. G. Weiss. 2013. “Sociocultural Context of Suicidal Behaviour in the Sundarban Region of India.” Psychiatry Journal 2013: 1–8. doi:10.1155/2013/486081.2314-4327http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:22824054The role of mental illness in nonfatal deliberate self-harm (DSH) is controversial, especially in Asian countries. This prospective study examined the role of psychiatric disorders, underlying social and situational problems, and triggers of DSH in a sample of 89 patients hospitalised in primary care hospitals of the Sundarban Delta, India. Data were collected by using a specially designed DSH register, Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue (EMIC), and clinical interview. Psychiatric diagnosis was made following the DSM-IV guidelines. The majority of subjects were young females (74.2%) and married (65.2%). Most of them (69.7%) were uncertain about their “intention to die,” and pesticide poisoning was the commonest method (95.5%). Significant male-female differences were found with respect to education level, occupation, and venue of the DSH attempt. Typical stressors were conflict with spouse, guardians, or in-laws, extramarital affairs, chronic physical illness, and failed love affairs.Themajor depressive disorder (14.6%) was the commonest psychiatric diagnosis followed by adjustment disorder (6.7%); however 60.7% of the cases had no psychiatric illness. Stressful life situations coupled with easy access to lethal pesticides stood as the risk factor. The sociocultural dynamics behind suicidal behaviour and community-specific social stressors merit detailed assessment and timely psychosocial intervention.These findings will be helpful to design community-based mental health clinical services and community action in the region.en-USJournal Article2015-08-09Chowdhury, AN; Banerjee, S; Brahma, A; Hazra, A; Weiss, MG2015-09-2810.1155/2013/486081