Is self-immolation still a contemporary phenomenon? Forensic evidence from the case studies of Milan (Italy) and literature review

Abstract

Self-immolation is one of the most extreme methods of suicide and is characterized by an extremely varied framework, with different profiles of forensic and psychopathological relevance in different areas of the world. It can underline social, cultural, religious, protest motivations or develop in the context of psychiatric pathologies and mental alterations. In this context, cases of suicide by self-immolation that occurred between 2017 and 2024 in Milan (Italy) were analyzed and compared with an earlier study from 1993 to 2016 in the same geographical area. Almost a decade has passed since then, society has experienced periods of major crisis, including the Covid 19 pandemic, and migration flows have increased. Suicide by self-immolation appears to be a slightly increasing phenomenon (+18 % compared to the past), confirming a greater involvement of men in particular, but with a prevalence in an older decade (70–79 years compared to 50–59 years). Furthermore, the number of foreigners has quadrupled (31 % compared to 3 %). In 77 % of the cases, they were subjects suffering from psychiatric pathologies and the main reasons given were attributed to mental health problems, family disputes, sentimental, economic problems and existential distress. There was no motivation attributable to religious, cultural or political reasons. In our view, suicidal burns should be considered a mental health issue in the vast majority of cases. The pathological-forensic starting point has thus made it possible to identify further elements that contribute to the enrichment of knowledge about this phenomenon, which is still relevant in the current society.