This study updated age & sex suicide rates in Italy, evaluated the methods of suicide; considered the effect of underreporting on suicide rates; compared age-adjusted rates of suicide; & examined some possible causes for the misclassification of suicide. Temporal trends, from 1980-2002, were analyzed using joinpoint regression. Suicide rates decreased by 10.5 percent for men & by 44 percent for women. The change in methods indicated an increasing use of highly lethal methods. The underreporting of suicides seems to have no effect on temporal changes in mortality rates or on the geographical distribution. Data indicate Italy is a country at low risk for suicide. (45 refs.) JA