 May be influenced by: ◦ The accessibility and availability of the means ◦ The user’s knowledge, experience, and familiarity with the means ◦ The meaning, symbolism, and cultural significance of the means ◦ Suggestion, contagion, or modeling factors ◦ The potential suicide’s state of mind

 Generally grouped into eight major categories: ◦ Firearms and explosives ◦ Hanging ◦ Submersion ◦ Jumping ◦ Cutting ◦ Drugs ◦ Ingestion of solids or liquids ◦ Gases and vapors

 What is the first method of choice for men? ◦ Firearms(63.5%)  Women? ◦ Firearms(38.5%)  What about the second method of choice?  Men ◦ Hanging(16.6%)  Women ◦ Drugs/Meds(24.0%)

 Total suicide rates showed significant statistical association to gun prevalence for almost all demographic groups (Markush and Bartolucci, 1984).  A significant negative correlation between the strictness of state gun control laws and state suicide rates (Lester and Murrell, 1980).

 2 nd most frequent method of suicide in the U.S. and is more common worldwide  Death is due to the compression of the neck which either obstructs the blood flow in the arteries, blocks the windpipe, or causes cardiac arrest.  Process takes around 4-5 minutes  Very common in prisons

 TCAs taken in doses over 2 grams will produce severe consequences (convulsion, coma, shock, respiratory shutdown).  Some drugs have high risk of fatality when used with alcohol (MAOI).  Illicit drug users have high rates of death by suicide  Over-the-counter drugs that are typically used include salicylates and acetaminophen.

 Jumps greater than 3 stories are generally fatal ◦ 4/11 people survived from 4 story jumps ◦ 1/10 survived from 6 story jumps ◦ Survival rate for Golden Gate Bridge is 2%

 Suicide through carbon monoxide (CO) asphyxiation generally occurs through a car’s exhaust or by home heating gas  CO binds with hemoglobin in the blood forcing out the oxygen from the cells  Person can become unconscious immediately or within minutes  Presumed to be a painless method of suicide

 Uncommon method for completed suicide  Common sites include the neck, wrists, or chest  Tends to be painful and is does not lead to a quick death  Tends to be more common in women than men

 Difficult to determine how a body ended up in the water  Majority of death by drowning are accidents (10:1)

 Benefits ◦ Get attention from family, friends, and professionals ◦ Suspension of ordinary responsibilities ◦ Short-term elevation of affect  Costs ◦ Stigmatizing ◦ People may get angry with the attempter  Attempts may inconvenience or manipulate others ◦ Attempter may use suicide attempts to cope with stress and life events ◦ Subsequent attempts may use more lethal methods ◦ Suicide attempters incur costs

 Attempted Suicide$5,310 $27,979 $33,289  Suicide$2,098$394,968$397,066 Direct Costs Indirect Costs Total Costs