Preferred Method Of Suicide Research Articles

Suicidal Deaths by Poisoning in Muzaffargarh: Observational Study Comprising of Regional Toxicity Patterns of Acute Poisoning in Cases of Suicidal Deaths in Muzaffargarh

Cases of suicidal deaths are increasing day by day and one of the main reasons is acute poisoning, which is the preferred method of suicide in many areas. The increasing number of deaths led us to conduct a study on this particular aspect. Objectives: To determine the frequency of toxic agents used for poisoning, regional trends of availability, modes and methods of use and reasons for self-poisoning. Methods: In this retrospective study, dead bodies of both genders and all age groups were studied with their respective data and history, for the years of 2019 to 2023. Unidentified, burnt, putrefied and bodies of chronic narcotic abuse were excluded. All the variables were analyzed through SPSS version 27.0. Results: Out of 387 cases of suicidal deaths due to poisoning, 67% were females with the predominant age group of 21 to 40 years. The majority were married and belonged to rural areas of Muzaffargarh with illiteracy levels up to 75%. The widely used poisonous agents were Kala Pathar, Wheat pills and Organophosphorus. Almost 61.7% of families did not allow postmortem of the deceased. Conclusions: It was concluded that suicidal deaths due to poisoning are soaring day by day due to the lack of proper legislation, suicide prevention strategies and provision of health facilities for the people of district Muzaffargarh.

Incidence and Risk Profiles for Suicide Mortality in Patients With Schizophrenia Receiving Homecare Case Management in Taiwan.

Case management (CM)-based community therapy for patients with schizophrenia had little effect on reducing suicide mortality. We investigate the long-term suicide mortality outcome and associated risk factors in patients with schizophrenia receiving homecare (CM) in Taiwan. We enrolled a nationwide cohort of patients with schizophrenia who newly received homecare CM intervention (n = 13 317) between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2015; their data were derived from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. We calculated the incidence rate of suicide methods. We examined the demographic and medical utilization profile for suicide and then performed a nested case-control study and multivariate regression to identify independent risk factors for suicide mortality. Among the 13 317 patients who received homecare CM intervention, 1766 died during the study period, of whom 213 died by suicide, which is the leading cause of unnatural death. Jumping from a high place, self-poisoning, and hanging were the top 3 suicide methods. Increased medical utilization was noted for both psychiatric and non-psychiatric services within 3 months of suicide mortality. Comorbidities of depressive disorder, nonspecific heart diseases, pneumonia, and gastrointestinal ulcers were identified as independent risk factors for suicide mortality. Suicide was the leading cause of unnatural mortality in patients with schizophrenia receiving homecare CM intervention in Taiwan. We noted the preferred suicide methods, high medical utilization, and comorbidities before suicide. Thus, we suggest that the CM team should assess lethal methods for suicide and ensure that patients adhere to psychiatry treatment for improving the current care model for this specified population.

Trends in Suicide Methods in Korea; 1997-1999 and 2017-2019

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine trend of the gender and age death rate of intentional self-harm in Korea 1997-1999 and 2017-2019. The analysis was based on data of intentional self-harm deaths from the 1997-1999 (21,937 deaths) and 2017-2019 (39,920 deaths) vital statistics of Korea.Methods: We are analyzed annual data from 1997-1999 and 2017-2019 for Korea in order to examine trends in the rates and methods of suicide. Data on suicide methods were obtained from the death certificate data (1997-1999 and 2017-2019) of Korea Statistics.Results: The common methods in 1997-1999 were hanging (37.6%), poisoning (37.2%), and jumping (9.5%). In 2017-2019, hanging (51.9%) has surpassed poisoning (26.2%) as the most often used method. The preferred suicide methods were hanging and poisoning in Korea. Through 2003-2011, the suicide rate (per 100,000 population) increased from 26.0 to 40.7 in male and increased from 10.7 to 16.2 in female, There was a decline in rates of poisoning and drowning in both gender but an increase in hanging and jumping by both gender during the period. Age specific suicide rate increased with advanced age in both gender. The odds (2017-2019) were greater than the odds (1997-1999) in both gender.Conclusions: All age suicide rates of hanging increased in both gender. there was decline in age specific rate of poisoning in both gender.

Deliberate Self-Poisoning: Real-Time Characterization of Suicidal Habits and Toxidromes in the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System.

Deliberate self-poisoning (DSP) using drugs is the preferred method of suicide at a global level. Its investigation is hampered by limited sample sizes and data reliability. We investigate the role of the US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), a consolidated pharmacovigilance database, in outlining DSP habits and toxidromes. We retrieved cases of 'intentional overdose' and 'poisoning deliberate' from the FAERS (January 2004-December 2021). Using descriptive and disproportionality analyses, we estimated temporal trends, potential risk factors, toxidromes, case-fatality rates and lethal doses (LDs) for the most frequently reported drugs. We retrieved 42,103 DSP cases (17% fatal). Most cases were submitted in winter. Reports of DSP involved younger people, psychiatric conditions, and alcohol use, compared with non-DSP, and fatality was higher in men and older patients. Suspected drugs were mainly antidepressants, analgesics, and antipsychotics. Multiple drug intake was recorded in more than 50% of the reports, especially analgesics, psychotropics, and cardiovascular agents. The most frequently reported drugs were paracetamol, promethazine, amlodipine, quetiapine, and metformin. We estimated LD25 for paracetamol (150g). Worldwide coverage of the FAERS complements existing knowledge about DSP and may drive tailored prevention measures to timely address the DSP phenomenon and prevent intentional suicides.

Fluctuations in and associations between physical and psychological distance to suicide methods, fearlessness about death, and suicidal intent.

Previous evidence has highlighted the potential roles of both physical and psychological distance to suicide methods as an important factor in conferring suicide risk; however, less is known about the temporal stability of and associations between these constructs, other facets of capability for suicide, and suicide-related outcomes. The present study examined fluctuations in and associations between physical and psychological distance to suicide methods, fearlessness about death, and suicidal intent using ecological momentary assessment. A sample of 237 adults at high risk for suicide (61.6% female, Mage = 27.12 years) responded to six prompts daily for 2 weeks assessing their physical and psychological distance to preferred suicide methods, fearlessness about death, and suicidal intent. Results indicated that physical and psychological distance to suicide methods exhibited both trait- and state-like properties, that lower physical and psychological distance and higher fearlessness about death were associated with higher concurrent suicidal intent, and that lower psychological distance was uniquely predictive of higher subsequent time-point suicidal intent, controlling for concurrent suicidal intent. Suicide attempt history and preferred suicide methods were explored as potential moderating factors. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of assessing and intervening upon psychological distance to suicide methods, in addition to physical proximity to these methods, in lethal means counseling. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

BÜYÜKŞEHİRLERİMİZDE KADIN İNTİHARLARI

It is our biggest and most realistic goal to identify the steps that need to be taken to prevent suicides and especially female suicides, and it is our sincere wish to be useful to the works that will be prepared about suicide. Within the scope of this research, more than 350 academic works on suicides have been reached and all the works have been thoroughly examined with all the details and the road map of the study has been determined. Descriptive research management and document analysis were used in this study, which deals with suicidal acts on the basis of the data of the Turkish Statistical Institute for 2019 on women and the provinces with the title of metropolitan in administrative terms, in particular, descriptive research management and document analysis were used. The methods in question were used to analyze female suicides in categories such as age group, suicide patterns, causes, and gross suicide rates. According to the evaluations, a total of 604 women in our province with 30 metropolitan status chose the path of suicide and ended their lives. The maximum numbers of cases were found in Istanbul (99 cases), Ankara (43 cases), Diyarbakır (37 cases) and İzmir (36 cases), while Malatya (2 cases), Trabzon (5 cases) and Sakarya (6 cases) constituted the provinces with the lowest values. The highest number of cases in the age groups occurred in the group aged 20-24 to 15-19 years. The most preferred method of suicide is hanging, while other and illness have been the most common causes of suicide (Tüik, https://biruni.tuik.gov.tr/medas/?kn=115&locale=tr, Erişim Tarihi: 10.11.2021). Female suicides are a preventable public and community health problem. In order to avoid this act, the socio-economic and socio-cultural problems of women should be solved, a permanent and effective roadmap should be prepared and urgently implemented.

An autopsy study of suicidal hanging

Hanging is the most preferred method of Suicide. Individuals are known to use different Ligature material and suspend completely or partially. hence, it is important to understand the Parameters involved in it. Large number of Suicidal death are reported. To Understand Suicidal Hanging by studying different parameters involved in it like Ligature Material, Type of Knot. Sex and Age Group, involved, kind of Suspension and Position of knot. A total of 634 cases were studied . Crime scene examination was done only in those cases where their were Suspicion on the Suspension Deaths. Rest of the cases the crime scene photographs and investigating officer records were the inputs. Only Suicidal Hanging were Considered for the Study. Suicidal Hanging contributed to 6.5% of the Total Cases. The Ropes[27%%] and Stole [36%]Contributed to the Most Preferred Ligature Material and Shoe Lace contribute[0.5%] to the least preferred Material for Self Suspension. Complete Suspension was observed in 62% of cases. The Majority of the Victims were Females contributing to 62% of the Deaths. The Major Age Group[50.76%] Involved was between 21-30years and the Uneffected Age group were those in the Extremes of Life i.e 1-10 and 61-70years. A Slip Knot was used on 97.73% of suspensions. In 78% of Suspension the Position of the Knot was situated over the [Typical Hanging]Nape of Neck. Married Victims Contributed to 37.45% of cases. The different Parameters of Suicidal Hanging are necessary to understand the Suicidal Nature of Hanging.

Patterns of suicide in Kuwait from 2014 to 2018

ObjectivesSuicide is a public health problem in many countries around the world and is one of the top ten causes of death internationally. We performed a retrospective study from 2014 to 2018 to study the patterns of suicide in Kuwait. Study designAfter reviewing files from the General department of Criminal Evidence, we collected a total of 297 in our study period that were signed out as suicide fatalities. MethodsThe relationship between demographic factors (e.g. age, sex, residential area) and suicides were studied using various statistical methodologies. ResultsThe majority of the 297 samples were in the age range of 19–35 years (180; 60.6%) and 36–65 years (107; 36%). Males constituted the majority of cases (241; 81.1%). The sample consisted of 20 different nationalities. More than half of the 297 samples were Indian (179; 60.2%), whereas Kuwaitis were a minority (22; 7.4%). Hanging was the preferred method of suicide in our study population (269; 90.6%). The governorate of Ahmadi had the highest death toll (89; 30%), followed by Farwaniyah (77; 25.9%) and Jahra (64; 21.5%). ConclusionThe government of the State of Kuwait needs to target the group that has the largest number of fatalities by increasing education and awareness of employers and employees to the danger of this condition and the driving factors that lead people to it.

Comparison between Adolescents and Adults Respecting Suicidal Behavior: A Native Local Study

Introduction: while some of scholars believe that combining adult and adolescent suicidal behavior findings can result in misleading conclusions, some of researchers have stated that suicidal behavior may be a different phenomenon in adolescents than in adults. Hence, in the present study, the clinical profile of suicidal behavior among adult and child & adolescent psychiatric inpatients, has been compared with each other, to assess their resemblances or variances, in a non-western, local patient population. Methods: five acute academic wards, which have been specified for admission of first episode adult psychiatric patients, and five acute non-academic wards, which have been specified for admission of recurrent episode adult psychiatric patients, had been selected for current study. In addition, child & adolescent section of Razi psychiatric hospital was the field of appraisal concerning its specific age-group. All inpatients with suicidal behavior (successful suicide and attempted suicide, in total), during the last five years (2013-2018), had been included in the present investigation. Besides, clinical diagnosis was based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition. Intra-group and between-group analyses had been performed by ‘comparison of proportions’. Statistical significance as well, had been defined as p value ≤0.05. Results: As said by results, during a sixty months period, sixty-three suicidal behaviors among adult patients, including one successful suicide and sixty-two suicide attempts, and fourteen suicide attempts among child & adolescent patients, without any successful one, had been recorded by the security board of the hospital. While among adults and child & adolescent patients no significant gender-based difference was evident, with respect to suicidal conduct, among adults, the most frequent mental illness was bipolar I disorder, which was significantly more prevalent in comparison with other mental disorders. The other disorders included schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, personality disorders (borderline & antisocial), substance abuse disorders, and adjustment disorder. Among child & adolescent subjects, the most frequent mental illness was, once more, bipolar I disorder, followed by conduct disorder, and substance abuse disorder. Moreover, no significant difference was evident between the first admission and recurrent admission cases in adults or child & adolescents. While self-mutilation, self poisoning and hanging were the preferred methods of suicide among both groups, self-mutilation was significantly more prevalent than the other ways. Conclusion: While the annual incidence of suicidal behavior in inpatient adults and child & adolescents was comparable, bipolar disorder was the most frequent serious mental illness among suicidal subjects of both groups. Moreover, self-mutilation was the preferred method of suicide in adult and child & adolescent psychiatric inpatients.

Para Phenylene Diamine Poisoning: Hepatic and Renal Damage

Suicide is the second leading cause of death and it kills one person in every 40 seconds mostly between age limits 15-29 years. The global official surveys conducted reported higher death rates in low and middle income countries; however, women were affected more than men. Poisoning with chemicals is known to be a preferred method of suicide. The morbidity and mortality data following hair dye poisoning peaked in last few years. Interestingly, poisoning with Para Phenylene Diamine (PPD) is an emerging way of intentional self-harm in developing countries of Asia and Africa. We report here a case of 15 years old patient brought to our hospital emergency unit. The patient developed sudden onset of acute cervico-facial edema, lacrimation and abdominal pain, later followed by deranged liver and renal functions progressing towards liver and renal failure. The history selectively indicated the ingestion of a hair dye locally called “Kala Pathar” which predominantly contains PPD. The lack of specific diagnostic tests, a specific antidote for PPD poison and the importance of early supportive treatment are discussed.

Medico-legal examination of hanging

Hanging is usually fatal and it is one of the most preferred method of suicide due to can be applied easily at any environment. In hanging particularly serious injuries is seen on the neck structures. Vascular injuries, cervical spine injury, laryngeal, tracheal injury can be seen or cerebral edema, intracranial hemorrhage can be occurred secondary to neck injury. In survivors of hanging, epilepsy, pulmonary complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary edema, and bronchopneumonia are frequently observed. Hanging is a serious health problem that requires urgent intervention and post-professional care. Hanging has a high mortality despite early and accurate intervention. However the relief of neck structures and the treatment of accompanying complications can increase survival. In this study, we aimed that once again attract attention one of the most preferred way of suicide hanging cases, raise awareness of community on this issue and emphasize the importance of the early interventions in patients with near hanging. J Clin Exp Invest 2015; 6 (4): 400-405 Key words: Hanging, medico/legal, complication

Suicides in Visually Impaired Persons: A Nation-Wide Register-Linked Study from Finland Based on Thirty Years of Data.

Focusing on seasonality, gender, age, and suicide methods a Finnish nation-wide cohort-based study was carried out to compare suicide data between sighted, visually-impaired (WHO impairment level I-II, i.e., visual acuity >0.05, but <0.3) and blind (WHO impairment level III-V, i.e., visual acuity <0.05) victims. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) of age- and gender-matched populations from official 1982–2011 national registers were used. Group differences in categorical variables were assessed with Pearson's Chi-square or Fisher's Exact test and in continuous variables with Mann-Whitney U-test. Seasonality was assessed by Chi-square for multinomials; ratio of observed to expected number of suicides was calculated with 95% confidence level. Hanging, poisoning, drowning, but rarely shooting or jumping from high places, were preferred suicide methods of the blind. Mortality was significantly increased in the visually impaired (SMR = 1.3; 95% CI 1.07–1.61), but in gender-stratified analyses the increase only affected males (1.34; 95% CI = 1.06–1.70) and not females (1.24; 95% CI 0.82–1.88). Age-stratified analyses identified blind males of working age rather than older men (as in the general population) as a high risk group that requires particular attention. The statistically significant spring suicide peak in blind subjects mirrors that of sighted victims and its possible cause in the blind is discussed.

Clinico-Epidemiological Study on Pesticide Poisoning in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern Nepal

Pesticide poisoning is a major health problem worldwide. In Nepal the most common cause is suicidal and pesticides account for more than fifty percent of cases. The objective of the study was to look in detail regarding the pesticide poisoning cases admitted at BPKIHS; their epidemiological profile, presentation, treatment and their outcome during the hospital stay. It was a retrospective study which included 2621 patients with poisoning of which 1661 cases were related to pesticides. The mean duration of hospital stay was 6.7 days. The majority of patients 81.16% showed improvement whereas 6.6% of patients died within 24 hours of admission and 3.54% after 48 hours of admission. Among all the patients 0.5% patients were given ICU care and all others were managed in the different units of medicine ward. The total amount of atropine administered varied considerably. Most of the cases were under the influence of alcohol. All the patients had a psychiatry evaluation before discharge. Pesticide poisoning is increasing in incidence and it is one of the preventable public health problems and includes mainly the patients' age group 20-30 years. Due to easy availability of pesticides it is the most preferred method of suicide and the main reasons being impulsive act and increased indebtedness in the society.

Comparative Epidemiology of Suicide in South Korea and Japan: Effects of Age, Gender and Suicide Methods

Suicide is one of the leading causes of mortality in both South Korea and Japan. The study aims to compare the descriptive epidemiology of suicide over the last two decades (1985-2006) and to explore the conditions associated with the different distribution of suicides in both countries. Age-standardized suicide rates were obtained from the OECD Health Data 2009. Age-specific suicide rates for the age groups were calculated from the WHO Mortality Database. Suicide methods were identified based on ICD-10. Through 1980-2000, Japan showed consistently higher suicide rates compared to Korea. However, from the mid-1990s, Korea showed an acute increase of suicides and finally surpassed Japan; the age-standardized suicide rate of Korea increased from 10.2 (per 100,000) in 1985 to 21.5 in 2006, while it slightly increased from 18.4 to 19.1 in Japan. The highest age-specific suicide rate was observed among Japanese men aged 45-64 years and Korean men aged over 64 years. The increase of elderly suicides among Korean women was notable. The gender ratio increased in Japan and decreased in Korea, respectively. The preferred suicide methods were hanging and pesticide poisoning in Korea and hanging in Japan. Because of the limited number of observations, hypothesis testing of specific risk factors was not possible. Age and gender distribution of suicide rates differed considerably between the two countries. Welfare protection throughout the life course in both countries, and pesticide regulation in Korea would be helpful in reducing the burden of suicide mortality in both countries, even if the social values could not be changed in a short time.

Suicide as Marketing Technique in Galdós's La desheredada

SUICIDE AS MARKETING TECHNIQUE IN GALDÓS’S LA DESHEREDADA by Michael A. Schnepf University of Alabama FOR some still unexplained reason Spaniards suddenly began to kill themselves at an alarming rate in the late 1870s and early 1880s. According to Jorge Jimeno Agius in El suicidio en España, there were only 211 recorded self-inflicted deaths in Spain in 1862. Less than twenty years later the suicide rate had changed drastically. By 1880, when no fewer than 593 Spaniards – an upturn of more than 180% – took their own lives the entire nation was taking serious notice of the trend. When Pérez Galdós published his groundbreaking novel, La desheredada, in 1881 he too appears to have been aware that a perplexing new problem had caught the attention of his reading public. This essay contains three basic points of departure. In part one we will provide evidence of how this concern over suicide manifested itself in Spanish culture. The focus of the second section will shift to the surprising and clever methods that Galdós uses to incorporate this issue into the pages of La desheredada. In part three we will explain the reasons and the benefits behind the novelist’s decision to bring this component into play. By the late 1870s people from a broad cross section of Spanish society were beginning to take heed of the growing problem with suicide. It is important to note in this regard that Galdós was not the only writer to perceive this fatal act as a viable literary theme. In 1879 the respected dramatist, Francisco Flores García, published a play entitled Receta contra el suicidio in which the protagonist sees death as his only solution: Ya la desdicha me agovia Y todo triste lo miro. 41 El estanque del Retiro ó el viaducto de Segovia son el único remedio á esta crisis financiera que tanto me desespera. (Act I scene iii)1 A few years later in 1882, Eduardo Jackson Cortés debuted ¡Adiós mundo amargo!, a play that underscores how commonplace suicide had become in Spain: Hoy el suicidarse Como usted lo ve, Tiene la importancia De tomar un café. Hoy el suicidarse Tan en modo está Que a nadie le sorprende Ni causa novedad. (Act IV, 41-2)2 It was not long before newspapers also came to the realization that the growing number of suicides had become a selling point. In late 1880, José Fernández Bremon penned a curious essay that ponders how certain aspects related to suicide have changed and points to a possible literary cause for the sudden wave of deaths: No sé si alguien hace en España, ni siquiera en Madrid, la estadística de los suicidios: supongo que la dirección de Sanidad se ocupará de ese trabajo, anotando, además de las circunstancias morales que concurren en los que se quitan la vida, los meses en que el hecho es más frecuente y hasta el estado de la atmósfera. . . . El suicidio tenía algo de manía ó una moda aristocrática, es decir, antes era menos frecuente: se necesitaba cierta perversión culta para darse este último escándalo; ahora se ha vulgarizado, poniéndose al alcance de todas las imaginaciones. Parecía el resultado de un sentimentalismo morboso adquirido en lecturas melancólicas y escépticas , ese aliento de espíritu. Y a medida que esa enfermedad intelectual se ha ido transmitiendo á cerebros menos cultivados, se ha hecho más peligroso, porque la mayor defensa contra el hastío de la vida está en la fuerza del espíritu. (11 April 1880: 1) The journalist goes on to add in rather emphatic terms that by 1880 the preferred method of suicide in Madrid was a dramatic plunge from the newly constructed viaduct. So many people were taking their own life that a small controversy developed around the topic of what to do with the bodies. Bremon, in the same pro42 Michael A. Schnepf gressive-minded essay, argues that the bodies of those that committed suicide should be donated to medical schools to help offset a serious shortage of cadavers during the years 1879-1881. Also, the...

Methods of suicide: international suicide patters derived from the WHO mortality database

Accurate information about preferred suicide methods is important for devising strategies and programmes for suicide prevention. Our knowledge of the methods used and their variation across countries and world regions is still limited. The aim of this study was to provide the first comprehensive overview of international patterns of suicide methods. Data encoded according to the International Classification of Diseases (10th revision) were derived from the WHO mortality database. The classification was used to differentiate suicide methods. Correspondence analysis was used to identify typical patterns of suicide methods in different countries by providing a summary of cross-tabulated data. Poisoning by pesticide was common in many Asian countries and in Latin America; poisoning by drugs was common in both Nordic countries and the United Kingdom. Hanging was the preferred method of suicide in eastern Europe, as was firearm suicide in the United States and jumping from a high place in cities and urban societies such as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. Correspondence analysis demonstrated a polarization between pesticide suicide and firearm suicide at the expense of traditional methods, such as hanging and jumping from a high place, which lay in between. This analysis showed that pesticide suicide and firearm suicide replaced traditional methods in many countries. The observed suicide pattern depended upon the availability of the methods used, in particular the availability of technical means. The present evidence indicates that restricting access to the means of suicide is more urgent and more technically feasible than ever.

Prison suicides in Austria, 1975-1997.

Suicide prevention in custody is hampered by the lack of funds and professional staff. In order to evaluate the prison suicide phenomenon, a study was conducted evaluating all suicides that occurred in Austrian prisons between 1975 and 1997 (n = 220). In addition to evaluating the number of male versus female suicides, the preferred suicide methods were studied, as well as suicide risk of different circumstances of custody. Suicide rates of distinguishable, important subgroups of prisoners were calculated. The suicide rate for prisoners on remand was 236.0 per 100,000, and for offenders classified as mentally ill it was 205.4 per 100,000. That is about 8 times higher than the suicide rate in Austria's general population (1975-1997: 24.6 per 100,000). The suicide rate for sentenced offenders was 81.3 per 100,000, about twice the suicide rate in Austria's general male population. We recommend that psychologists or psychiatrists concentrate on the suicide prevention of high-risk offenders after screening the newly admitted offenders for their propensity to suicide.

A study of suicides in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.

To study suicides occurring in Ballarat with regard to incidence, demographic variables, possible causal factors, and association with psychiatric disorders over a period of 5 years. A detailed review of the coroner's record of every suicide occurring during 1992-1996 was undertaken. Information was obtained on socio-demographic variables, method and circumstances of suicide, and associated psychiatric disorders in each case and subjected to psychological autopsy. 75 suicides were recorded. The male to female ratio was 4:1 and average age was 43 years. 60% had associated psychiatric illnesses, mainly affective disorders. Carbon monoxide self-poisoning accounted for 40%, firearms for 30%, and hanging, overdose, asphyxia and other methods for the remaining 30%. It was statistically significant that the younger age group preferred firearms to other methods, and that their suicides were precipitated by interpersonal conflicts. Social and personal difficulties were associated in 33%, and triggering factors were present in 40%. Previous suicide attempts were present in 28%, while 32% had manifest behavior changes preceding suicides or verbalized their intent to suicide. Suicide rates in Ballarat were higher than the average overall Victorian and Australian rates. After a consistent decline over 4 years an increase occurred in 1996. The preferred method of suicide was carbon monoxide, although the young preferred firearms. Demographic and other psychosocial factors were similar to the rest of Australia. Unemployment was not a significant factor. Psychiatric conditions, personal and social problems figured prominently as factors of etiological significance in suicide subjects.

Recent trends in methods of suicide.

Trends in completed suicide by method were analysed for Belgium between 1968-1972 and 1978-1981, using the information reported on death certificates. Around 1980, hanging was the most preferred method of suicide in both sexes, followed by firearms in males and poisoning by solid and liquid substances in females. Between 1970 and 1980, rates for all but one method (domestic gas) increased. The largest changes among men were seen for firearms and for poisoning, accounting respectively for 43% and 33% of the overall increase. For women, 48% of the rise was attributable to poisoning and 24% to drowning. The choice of method was seen to be influenced by age: hanging and drowning were the preferred methods for older people, whereas poisoning was the most popular among younger adults. The male-female ratio decreased for firearms and was reversed for poisoning and drowning. These findings are compared with trends in other industrialized countries, and the possibilities for suicide prevention by reducing the firearms and poisoning rates are discussed.

Suicide in southern Sri Lanka.

The pattern of suicide in a southern district of Sri Lanka was studied retrospectively over a period of one year. The mortality by suicide of 25/100,000 population is higher than that in the UK and other Western European countries. The largest number of suicides occurred in the age group 15–24 years. Poisoning was the preferred method of suicide in over 80% of subjects. The commonest agent used was a weedkiller, paraquat. Free availability of such potent toxic substances can culminate in a suicidal act when in fact a large number of the victims had no intention of committing suicide. There is a place for restriction of the sale of agrochemicals without jeopardizing their availability to farmers.