ETHNOGRAPHY OF SUICIDE: A TALE OF FEMALE SUICIDES IN DISTRICT GHIZER, GILGIT-BALTISTAN

Suicide is a rapidly growing social and psychological problem around the world especially in developing countries. Various studies show that the ratio of suicide in young females is high especially in Muslim countries. The current study was conducted in district Ghizer in Gilgit-Baltistan where an unexpected rise in suicide rate has been reported during recent years. The findings of the research are based on a close and careful study of the registered cases of female suicides in the district. In order to have a meticulous analysis of these cases the data was collected through formal and informal interviews and key informant method. The purpose of the research was to study suicide as a consequence of social and cultural issues beyond the conventional approach to look at it as a psychological illness.