Demographic Predictors of Suicide (IN: Assessment and Prediction of Suicide, edited by R W Maris et al)

This chapter focuses on the observed variation in completed suicide rates in the USA & reports current data by gender, ethnicity, age, method, & geographic location. The 1987 data reported are based on death certificates as compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics. The chapter notes that although death certificates can provide insights, their usefulness is impaired by underreporting of suicide deaths & by the absence of information on pertinent risk factors. (51 refs.)