Five-Year Trends and Patterns of Suicide in Karnali Province, Nepal: A Descriptive Analysis

Abstract

Suicide remains a major global public health concern, with Nepal experiencing a substantial burden in recent years. This study examines five-year suicide trends in Karnali Province, Nepal, using a descriptive research design and secondary data. The findings reveal 1,517 reported suicide cases, of which young people accounted for 38.6%. Hanging was the most common method (83.9%), while domestic violence was the leading reported cause (31.4%). Married individuals constituted 73.3% of the cases. Geographically, Surkhet, Dailekh, and Salyan together accounted for 70% of reported suicides across the province’s 10 districts. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive, multidimensional suicide prevention strategies, including accessible community-based mental health services, livelihood support, domestic violence prevention and response, and youth-focused psychosocial counselling.