The Epidemiology of Case Fatality Rates for Suicide in the Northeast

The authors examined how method-specific case fatality rates for suicide differ by age & gender. 7 northeastern states provided mortality & hospital discharge data, 1996-2000. Suicide acts were divided into 8 categories based on the methods used. For each method, the fraction of acts resulting in death was calculated. Only suicide acts resulting in hospitalization or death were included. Overall, 13% of all suicide acts proved lethal. For every means, method-specific case fatality rates were higher for males & older individuals. Age & gender were associated with overall case fatality rates primarily because of their association with the distribution of methods chosen. (32 refs.) JA