Abstract

A SUICIDE PACT IN MALAYSIA: A CASE REPORT

Objective: Suicide pacts are rare subsets of suicides amounting to less than 1% of suicides globally. Usually, there is one dominant participant to persuade the other by their shared experiences to agree to the suicide pact. There is also the perceived loss of a partner (which is a contributing factor in about 20% of cases) with the impending death of one member acting as a trigger. Methods: We report a 46-year-old Burmese lady who presented with deliberate self- poisoning immediately after the death of her husband to honour a suicide pact they made. She had no previous history of psychiatric illnesses. The pact, initiated by her husband, was well planned six months prior to his death. Result: She was discharged well after a thorough medical evaluation and supportive therapy. Input of family members knowledgeable in Buddhism helped allay her obligation to the pact citing religious reasons. Conclusion: The case highlights a suicide pact that was initially unrecognised in the ward. In a multicultural country, psychiatrists need to be more sensitive and aware of erroneous beliefs that may lead to a suicide pact.