HKIER

Abstract

In recent decades, Sri Lanka has recorded one of the highest rates of suicide in the world. Its rate of female suicide is second only to China. Suicides and acts of self-harm are concentrated in rural areas and among economically disadvantaged groups. Many occur in the context of family disputes and other conflicts with intimates. They are largely unpremeditated and driven by feelings of anger, humiliation, frustration, and desire to strike back against wrongful treatment. This article describes the social ecology of young women’s suicide in Sri Lanka, its cultural meanings, and the relational dynamics involved. Implications of the cultural, ecological, and psychological factors are discussed, with recommendations for counselors and human service workers.

摘要

近數十年，斯里蘭卡的自殺率位居世界首位，而其女性的自殺率亦位居第二，僅次於中國。自殺及自殘行為集中在鄉郊地區，以及經濟條件不利的社群，起因大都與家庭糾紛有關，或與親人發生衝突所致。這些自殺及自殘行為大都沒有計劃，而是由憤怒、受辱、挫敗等情緒，或對不公平對待作出反擊的欲望所驅使。本文描述斯里蘭卡年輕婦女自殺的社會生態，其文化意涵，以及當中所涉及的互動關係。本文亦會討論文化、生態、生理因素的影響，並會向輔導人員及社會服務工作者作出處理這些問題的建議。