Rate And Method Of Suicide Attempts In The US Between 1992 And 2010: Geographic And Demographic Differences

It is widely recognized that one of the most effective suicide prevention strategies is to restrict access to highly lethal methods of suicide (e.g., firearms, pesticides). However, there is a paucity of recent studies that assess the potential correlates of method lethality, such as demographic and geographic variables. Therefore, the present study aims to address this gap in literature by analyzing method lethality used in suicide attempts across varying geographic and demographic variables, including region (West, Midwest, Northeast, South), Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), sex, age groups, races, and ethnicities using National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) data from 1992-2010. Results suggest that males are significantly more likely to use highly lethal methods when attempting suicide. Being non-Hispanic and living in a rural area was related to a higher likelihood of electing to use a highly lethal suicide attempt method, though these findings were not statistically significant. The implications for clinical practice and prevention policy are discussed.