Method of Suicide in Relation to Some Sociodemographic Variables in Northern Sweden

Abstract

All completed suicides during the 42 years 1952–1993 in the comity of Västerbotten in northern Sweden (1,466 cases) were analysed by multiple logistic regressions to relate suicide methods with gender, age, place of residence, marital status, year of suicide, season of suicide, and season of birth. The ratio of preferences between hanging and firearms remained stable throughout 1952–1993, both to be overtaken in preference first by petrol gases and then by poisoning in recent years. Firearms were preferred significantly more often by males and in rural areas having a long tradition of hunting wild life. Poisoning and drowning were preferred more often by females, nonmarried (single, divorced, widow/widower) and in urban Umeå. Drowning was preferred around summer and by the older group. Petrol gases were preferred by younger persons, males, married and in urban Umeå. Those born during the season January to April were more likely to prefer hanging rather than poisoning or petrol gases. Preference depends both on availability and acceptability. Associations between preference for the suicide methods and their availability were found. Variations in preference were found with respect to the individual's sociodemographic and temporal circumstances. No criteria valid generally across the sociodemographic variables justified a grouping of the methods into violent and nonviolent.

The study was partly supported by grants from the Swedish Council for Planning and Coordination of Research and the Swedish Council for Social Research.

Keywords:

• suicide method
• sociodemographic variables
• availability
• acceptability

Notes

The study was partly supported by grants from the Swedish Council for Planning and Coordination of Research and the Swedish Council for Social Research.