Time Trends in Suicide Mortality Vary in Choice of Methods: an Analysis of 145,865 Fatal Suicide Cases in Germany 1991-2002

This study evaluated time trends in suicide mortality by method in Germany over the period 1991-2002. 145,865 suicides of individuals aged 15 years & older & with information about method were recorded. 7 suicide methods were defined based on these data. The most frequent method in both genders was hanging/strangulation/suffocation. Statistically significant declines were observed in the number of suicides by self-poisoning, drowning, & hanging/strangulation/suffocation in both genders. Modificatons of time trends were observed for several methods by age classes. (32 refs.) JA