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Characteristics of completed suicides: implications of differences among methods
E P Fischer1, G W Comstock, M A Monk
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205-7199.
Suicide & Life-Threatening Behavior
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Suicides by jumping account for 30% of deaths in NYC. This study found that the method of suicide is linked to personal characteristics, suggesting interventions targeting access to suicide means can reduce overall rates.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Forensic Science
Background:
- Jumping suicides constitute a significant proportion, approximately 30%, of all suicides in New York City.
- Understanding the characteristics associated with different suicide methods is crucial for developing targeted prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the characteristics of individuals who die by suicide via jumping with those who use other methods such as hanging, ingestion, or shooting.
- To investigate the independent association between personal characteristics and the chosen method of suicide, controlling for access to means.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive analysis of jumping suicides and identification of common jumping sites.
- Application of polychotomous logistic regression to analyze the relationship between suicide method and individual characteristics.
Main Results:
- The method of suicide was significantly associated with sociodemographic factors, occupational status, and mental health status.
- These associations remained significant even after adjusting for individual access to the means of suicide.
Conclusions:
- The findings provide strong evidence that personal characteristics are independently associated with the method of suicide chosen.
- Controlling access to common suicide agents, informed by understanding these associations, may influence overall suicide rates, at least in the short term.
- The study supports the implementation of preventive programs focused on restricting access to widely used suicide methods.