ISLAMABAD: A total of 550 women and 250 men were brought to Pims last year after attempting suicide.

Pims spokesperson Dr Waseem Khawaja said between March 1, 2017 and Feb 28, 2018, 800 people were brought to Pims emergency department for attempting suicide.

“Most of them tried to commit suicide by ingesting acid, poison and sleeping pills, so they were shifted to the medical and gastro departments. Those who took corrosive [substances] damaged their oesophagus and stomach,” he said.

Dr Khawaja said lesions were detected through endoscopies, and massive damage was referred to surgery.

“Patients were brought from different parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, Islamabad etc. Five of them died because they were either brought in late or [because of the methods they used],” he said.

He added that depression and severe disappointment were major factors in causing people to commit suicide. He suggested seeking psychiatric treatment in the event that people display unusual or aggressive behaviour.

Although attempted suicide is punishable under section 325 of the PPC, Dr Khawaja said in response to a question that hospitals consider survivors to be patients, as they attempt suicide due to severe depression or disappointment. But, he added, the police are informed if patients die or injure themselves severely.

PPP Senator Kareem Ahmed Khawaja has also tabled a bill that would consider suicide survivors to be patients rather than deeming the act a crime.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2018