The global trends of suicide are affected by the accessibility of different methods (AFSP, 2015). The most common methods of suicide, by geographical location, are ingestion of pesticide (Asia), hanging (Europe), and firearms (the United States) (WHO, 2014). In Asia, agricultural chemicals are easily available, and therefore self-poisoning using pesticides is common (Baumert et al., 2008, Kposowa, 2013). Whereas asphyxia suicide by carbon monoxide (CO) inhalation is common in Eastern countries, it is rare in the United States (Schmitt, Williams, Woodard, & Harruff, 2011). Given the ease of access to guns, suicide by firearm is more common in the United States (Kposowa, 2013). Asphyxia and overdose are the next most common suicide methods
…show more content…
When a particular method of suicide becomes less physically accessible, the use of that suicide method will decrease (Lester, 1998). For instance, firearm suicide decreased after gun control legislation was passed (Lester, 1998 and other studies). Cognitive availability of information about suicide method is important in determining suicide method. Biddle et al. (2012) interviewed twenty-two individuals who made near-fatal suicide attempts from hospitals in England over the period of 2006 to 2009. Some of the respondents indicated that, even when they were not actively suicidal, they had inadvertently learned about methods through media. Some of the respondents in the study felt encouraged or dissuaded by media representation of suicide method. For instance, some of them learned about suicide-by-jumping through the television show “The Bridge”; others learned about suicide-by-hanging through the movie “Shawshank Redemption” and the television program “CSI.” Only a minority of respondents reported using their previous self-harm experiences, knowledge of attempts by others, or information from healthcare providers to determine their methods of implementation. Biddle et al. (2012) posit social media such as newspaper introduces possible methods of suicides by providing explicit or direct discussions of the implementation of a particular method, …show more content…
Skegg, Firth, Gray, and Cox (2010) examined suicide data over a period of thirty years to investigate the accessibility of suicide methods based on the occupations. For instance, nurses were included in the study as they might have access to drugs. Skegg et al. (2010) concluded that accessibility to and familiarity with means increased suicidal risk. They reported that nurses, doctors, and pharmacists were more likely to use poison for suicide due to accessibility. In addition, farmers and hunters were twice as likely others to complete firearm suicides. Similarly, Liu et al. (2013) reported that individuals who completed firearm suicides were more likely to be veterans, suggesting access to and familiar with
When a particular method of suicide becomes less physically accessible, the use of that suicide method will decrease (Lester, 1998). For instance, firearm suicide decreased after gun control legislation was passed (Lester, 1998 and other studies). Cognitive availability of information about suicide method is important in determining suicide method. Biddle et al. (2012) interviewed twenty-two individuals who made near-fatal suicide attempts from hospitals in England over the period of 2006 to 2009. Some of the respondents indicated that, even when they were not actively suicidal, they had inadvertently learned about methods through media. Some of the respondents in the study felt encouraged or dissuaded by media representation of suicide method. For instance, some of them learned about suicide-by-jumping through the television show “The Bridge”; others learned about suicide-by-hanging through the movie “Shawshank Redemption” and the television program “CSI.” Only a minority of respondents reported using their previous self-harm experiences, knowledge of attempts by others, or information from healthcare providers to determine their methods of implementation. Biddle et al. (2012) posit social media such as newspaper introduces possible methods of suicides by providing explicit or direct discussions of the implementation of a particular method, …show more content…
Skegg, Firth, Gray, and Cox (2010) examined suicide data over a period of thirty years to investigate the accessibility of suicide methods based on the occupations. For instance, nurses were included in the study as they might have access to drugs. Skegg et al. (2010) concluded that accessibility to and familiarity with means increased suicidal risk. They reported that nurses, doctors, and pharmacists were more likely to use poison for suicide due to accessibility. In addition, farmers and hunters were twice as likely others to complete firearm suicides. Similarly, Liu et al. (2013) reported that individuals who completed firearm suicides were more likely to be veterans, suggesting access to and familiar with