Exploring suicidality in the aftermath of the 2022 flood in Pakistan: insights from newspaper reports

The loss of lives, financial instability, and the material and personal devastation experienced by individuals during and after floods contribute to their psychological vulnerabilities.1 These vulnerabilities can push individuals toward contemplating and engaging in suicidal behavior, compounding the already significant toll exacted by the disaster.2 Despite recognizing the importance of understanding and addressing the mental health impacts of natural disasters, there is a gap in research on the general population’s suicidal behavior during Pakistan’s monsoon season. Description of the Suicide and Suicide Attempt Victims Variables Frequency Percentage Age of the victims Below 15 3 3.5 Between 16 and 30 30 35.2 Between 31 and 45 8 9.4 Above 45 5 5.8 Not mentioned 39 45.8 Gender Male 58 68.2 Female 27 31.7 Religion Islam 53 62.35 Christianity 0 00 Hinduism 0 00 Not mentioned 32 37.6 Occupation Housewives 5 5.8 Employed 13 15.2 Not mentioned 67 78.8 Marital status Unmarried 12 14.1 Married 24 28.2 Divorced 2 2.3 Widow 1 1.1 Not mentioned 46 54.1 Locality Urban 31 36.4 Rural 54 63.5 Suicidal behavior Suicide 82 96.4 Attempted suicide 3 3.5 Suicide method Gun shooting 21 24.7 Hanging 25 29.4 Poison consumption 15 17.6 Jump from height 13 15.2 Under the train 2 2.3 Not mentioned 6 7.0 Other 3 3.5 Risk factors Familial disharmony 27 31.7 Husband–wife discordance 11 12.9 Depression 9 10.5 Poverty 10 11.7 Unemployment 4 4.7 Not mentioned 20 23.5 Other 4 4.7 Suicide place Home 65 76.4 Outside home 14 16.4 Not mentioned 6 7.0 This study’s findings revealed that the majority of the observed suicidal behavior consisted of completed suicides (96.4%), while suicide attempts accounted for a smaller portion. [...]this study highlights the significant impact of floods on the occurrence of suicidal behavior among the affected population in Pakistan.