Comparative study about methods of suicide between Japan and the United States

Author: Ojima T / Nakamura Y / Detels R
Publication: Journal of Epidemiology
Topics: Age Group Ethnicity Gender International Suicide
Keywords: Firearms Hanging Japan Method UNITED States
Bibliographic information +

The authors examined how methods of suicide differ in Japan and the United States, among races within the US, and between genders and age-groups, using vital statistics mortality data from 1999 for both countries. They found that age-adjusted mortality rates in Japan were 2 times higher for males and 3 times higher for females than in the US. Regarding methods, firearms, followed by hanging among males and drugs among females were the most prevalent for the US, whereas hanging and jumping from a high place were the most prevalent in Japan. In the US, firearms were the preferred method for the 20-39 age-group among males, whereas hanging was most common for males aged 40 years or more, and females of all ages.