Suicide Acts in 8 States: Incidence and Case Fatality Rates by Demographics and Method

Examined the relationship between suicide acts & age, sex, race, & method used. Groups with high suicide rates were men, the elderly, & Whites; groups with high attempted suicide rates were teenagers, young adults, women, & Blacks & Whites aged 25 to 44 years. Blacks aged 15 to 44 years evidenced high attempted suicide rates undocumented in previous studies. Poisoning & firearms were the most common methods used among those attempting suicide & those completing suicide acts, respectively. The most lethal method was firearms. (34 refs)