Guns, Alcohol, and Intimate Partner Violence: the Epidemiology of Female Suicide in New Mexico

Female suicide deaths in New Mexico from 1990-1994 were examined to identify & describe associated risk factors. Non-Hispanic whites were overrepresented compared to Hispanics & American Indians. Firearms accounted for 45.7% of the suicides. Intimate partner violence was documented in 5.1% of cases; in another 22.1% of cases, a male intimate partner fought with or separated from the victim immediately before the suicide. Nearly two-thirds of victims had alcohol or drugs present in their blood.