Factors Affecting the Choice of Suicide Method in Okayama: a Database Analysis From a Forensic Perspective

A database of personal & background characteristics of 824 individuals (605 men, 219 women) who died by suicide in Okayama Prefecture in 2002 & 2003 was analyzed. Using methodologies from a previous European study, suicide methods were classified into 8 categories. To examine generational & regional differences in choices of methods, the sample was stratified into 4 age groups & 2 regional groups. Results on gender differences in 7 of the suicide methods were mostly similar to the European data. However, data showed a remarkably higher proportionate male-to-female mortality ratio for poisoning by other substances. A Mantel-Haenszel test of homogeneity was significant for most of the categories, suggesting an impact of age on choice of method. (20 refs.)