Two young Palauan men died by self-harm in March, reigniting calls for the implementation of a 2022 law mandating psychological autopsies for suicide deaths.
The first death occurred on March 15th in Ngaraard, followed by another on March 24th in Aimeliik. Both cases involved young men.
Senator Dr. Stevenson Kuartei, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health & Social Welfare, revealed in a letter that the Ngaraard case marked the fourth suicide within the same family. This tragedy, along with three other suicides in 2022, prompted the enactment of Republic of Palau Public Law (RPPL) 11-17, also known as the Psychosocial Autopsy Law.
The law mandates psychological autopsies to understand the reasons behind suicide deaths and develop strategies to prevent future tragedies. Senator Kuartei urged the Behavioral Health Division of the Ministry of Health and Human Services to implement the law and conduct psychological autopsies “to assist this family and other families in Palau in preventing such tragedy.”
The Senator emphasized the legal obligation to perform these autopsies, stating, “It is imperative and actually illegal not to perform psycho-social autopsy…”
This renewed focus on suicide prevention comes amidst concerns about the mental well-being of Palau’s population. The implementation of RPPL 11-17 is seen as a crucial step towards understanding and addressing the factors contributing to suicide in Palau.