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531258 
Journal Article 
Suicide methods in Europe: a gender-specific analysis of countries participating in the "European Alliance Against Depression'' 
Varnik, A; Kolves, K; van der Feltz-Cornelis, CM; Marusic, A; Oskarsson, H; Palmer, A; Reisch, T; Scheerder, G; Arensman, E; Aromaa, E; Giupponi, G; Gusmao, R; Maxwell, M; Pull, C; Szekely, A; Sola, VP; Hegerl, U 
2008 
Yes 
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
ISSN: 0143-005X
EISSN: 1470-2738 
62 
6 
545-551 
English 
Objective: To identify the most frequent gender-specific suicide methods in Europe. Design: Proportions of seven predominant suicide methods utilised in 16 countries participating in the European Alliance Against Depression (EAAD) were reported in total and cross-nationally. Relative risk (RR) relating to suicide methods and gender was calculated. To group countries by pattern of suicide methods, hierarchical clustering was applied. Setting and participants: Data on suicide methods for 119 122 male and 41 338 female cases in 2000-4/ 5 from 16 EAAD countries, covering 52% of European population were obtained. Results: Hanging was the most prevalent suicide method among both males (54.3%) and females (35.6%). For males, hanging was followed by firearms (9.7%) and poisoning by drugs (8.6%); for females, by poisoning by drugs (24.7%) and jumping from a high place (14.5%). Only in Switzerland did hanging rank as second for males after firearms. Hanging ranked first among females in eight countries, poisoning by drugs in five and jumping from a high place in three. In all countries, males had a higher risk than females of using firearms and hanging and a lower risk of poisoning by drugs, drowning and jumping. Grouping showed that countries might be divided into five main groups among males; for females, grouping did not yield clear results. Conclusions: Research on suicide methods could lead to the development of gender-specific intervention strategies. Nevertheless, other approaches, such as better identification and treatment of mental disorders and the improvement of toxicological aid should be put in place. 
psychological autopsy; commit suicide; men; lethality; mortality; alcohol; states; rates; women