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A Case of Suicide Related with COVID-19
Tuğçe TOKER UĞURLU, Ayşe SEYDAOĞULLARI BALTACI, Alper AKÇA,Kemalettin ACAR
2020 31(4): 290-293
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The worldwide public health problem of suicide, requires a
multidisciplinary assessment, given its economic, cultural, social and
psychological aspects. The global COVID-19 pandemic that originated
from the Peoples Republic of China in the last months of 2019 has
the potential to trigger mental disorders and even suicidal attemps
through fear, psychosocial pressures and as a result of disruption of the
customary daily life styles. In this report we discuss a case of completed
suicide of a 34-year old male who had confined himself to his home,
after stocking up large amounts of food, drinking water and cleaning
materials in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in our country
using site investigation reports, medico-legal autopsy and psychological
authopsy of the deceased. It was found out that the victim was following
the internet and the television daily for news on the COVID-19
outbreak in the country. One week before the event, he had left his
workplace telling his colleagues that he would confine himself to his
home for 15-20 days to clean up the premises. Washed banknotes and
blister tablets were found in the house as well as stocked water and
cooked food. The deceased had twice consulted hospitals for fear of
COVID-19 infection 2 days before his demise. It was discussed that he
might have the diagnosis of “mixed anxiety and depression”. Evaluation
of his experiences, discourses and behaviours within the span of 3-4
days before the act and the site investigation have suggested that he
might have attempted suicide as a response to stress.
