Premature Mortality Due to Suicide and Homicide-United States, 1984

The authors of this article obtained their data from the National Center for Health Statistics computerized death certificate tapes, & express comparative statistics in terms of years of potential life lost (YPLL). Homicide & suicide were responsible for 11% of all YPLL in the U.S. for 1984. Suicide was the 5th leading cause of YPLL; homicide was 6th. Young white males continue to account for the largest portion of both homicide & suicide. 11 Ref. (NBB)