SUICIDE

SUICIDE AND PARASUICIDE

The term ‘Suicide’ comes from two words – ‘sui’ (of oneself) and ‘cide’ (killing of) – and is used to denote self- planned and deliberate termination of one’s life.  It is distinctively a human affair. All suicidal acts do not culminate in death. These are failed suicides, otherwise denoted as attempted suicides.

Parasuicide (Self-harm): Parasuicide or deliberate self-harm differs from suicide not only in the non-fatality of outcome but also on several other characteristics. Parasuicide differs from attempted suicide by the absence of death intention in the former.  They harm themselves without any intention of death or any motive to kill themselves.