War and suicide in northern Sri Lanka.

A study on the effect of war on the suicide rate in Jaffna town for the 10-year period from 1980 to 1989 is reported. There was a marked drop in the suicide rate during the war, notably among males and youth. An inverse relationship between suicide and homicide rates was shown in the overall trends, particularly in 1987. It is hypothesized that war may function as an alternate to suicide. The use of agrochemicals for suicidal purposes declined during war, while alary seeds became more popular. The method chosen may reflect availability and cultural popularity.