The Ten-year Trend in Suicide Methods

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Despite the wealth of studies investigating methods of committing suicide, very few studies have been undertaken in which the focus has been placed on the long-term trend in suicide methods. The aim of this study is therefore to examine the changes in suicide methods in Taiwan. Methods: Our study uses 1995-2004 ‘cause of death’ data, obtained from the Department of Health in Taiwan, to explore the trend in suicide methods among different age and gender groups. The autoregressive integrated moving average model is applied to examine the change in suicide methods among 25,062 suicide deaths during the ten-year study period. Results: Dramatic rises were identified in the proportions of suicides committed by poisoning by means of gases and vapors (both p 64 years age group, the proportions remained steady throughout the study period for all suicide methods, with the one exception of jumping from heights. Conclusions: Poisoning by gases and vapors is identified as being an increasingly popular method of committing suicide in Taiwan among both genders under the age of 65 years. Key words: Suicide; suicide methods; suicide trend Resume Objectif : Il existe une foule d’etudes sur les methodes employees pour se suicider, mais tres peu portent sur les tendances a long terme dans le choix des methodes. C’est pourquoi nous avons voulu examiner l’evolution des methodes de suicide a Taiwan. Methode : A partir des donnees du ministere taiwanais de la Sante sur les « causes de deces » de 1995 a 2004, nous avons analyse les tendances relatives aux methodes de suicide selon l’âge et le sexe. Nous avons applique le modele autoregressif des moyennes mobiles integrees pour etudier l’evolution des methodes de suicide pour 25 062 deces par suicide survenus durant la periode de reference de 10 ans. Resultats : Nous avons observe des hausses spectaculaires dans la proportion des suicides par inhalation de gaz et de vapeurs (p Conclusion : Les empoisonnements par inhalation de gaz et de vapeurs sont une methode de suicide de plus en plus courante a Taiwan chez les hommes et les femmes de moins de 65 ans. Mots cles : suicide; methodes de suicide; tendances relatives au suicide