Effect of Availability and Acceptability of Lethal Instruments on Suicide Mortality

Suicide mortality in the 5 years 1969-1973 in 11 countries is examined in relation to the methods used. Some countries have substantially high suicide rates for each method, others have increased mortality for certain specific methods. In this latter group it is suggested that some of the variations in total suicide mortality can be explained by variations in either the availability or the acceptability of certain specific instruments for causing death (eg. domestic gas, firearms, hanging).