Year: 2005 Source: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, v.40, no.4, (April 2005), p.324-328 SIEC No: 20070017

Coroners’ inquest records were examined for all gunshot suicides between January 2000-December 2001 in 24 coroners’ jurisdictions in England. 58 cases were identified, including one homicide-suicide. 93% of cases were male. In 20% of cases the gun did not belong to the individual who used it for suicide. Large amounts of alcohol had been consumed prior to the suicide in 9 cases. Nearly three-quarters of individuals with diagnostic information had a probable diagnosis of depression. However, only 22.4% had ever had contact with psychiatric services. It is concluded that strategies to reduce the number of gunshot suicides need to focus on limiting access to guns. (22 refs.)