Trends and Availability of Suicide Methods In Finland: Proposals for Restrictive Measures

This article reports on an analysis of trends & availability of methods used for suicide in Finland (1947-1990). The study confirms a strong correlation between availability & use of a method of suicide. Analysis of suicide by poisoning revealed relationships between the availability & suicide risk of various medicines. Results strongly support use of antidepressants other than tricyclics. Findings suggest that when one method is restricted, other methods tend to replace it. (35 Refs.)