[Firearm Suicides In Switzerland From 1969 To 2023]

To examine trends in firearm suicides in Switzerland in comparison to other methods of suicide, and to assess the impact of the availability of military firearms over time.

Descriptive statistical secondary analyses of Swiss cause of death statistics and data on army personnel for the period 1969-2023.

Firearm suicides occurred almost exclusively among men. While the suicide rate in Switzerland has been declining since the early 1980s, firearm suicides continued to rise until the 1990s. From then on, there was a slight decline in firearm suicides in the age group 18-64 years and a sharp decline in the 2000s. In the age group>64, the decline was significantly less pronounced. The data suggests that there has been little shift to other methods of suicide.

Restricted access, particularly to military weapons, was accompanied by a marked reduction in firearm suicides.