3. Trends in method of suicide

• Hanging

Trends differ markedly between means of suicide (Figures 6 and 7). The largest recent change is the rise in suicide by hanging (see next section). Suicide by means of firearms has declined by more than half since the late 1980s. Suicide by motor vehicle exhaust gas increased roughly in parallel with the decline in firearm cases.

Figure 6 : Trends in methods used in male suicides at all ages, Australia 1979-1998.

Categories: Hanging, suffocation: E953; MV exhaust gas: E952.0; Firearms: E955.0-.5; Drugs, medications E950.0-.5; Other means: rest of E950-959

Hanging has been the commonest means of suicide by males since 1992. The rate of male suicide by hanging more than tripled in the period shown. The rate of suicide by motor vehicle exhaust fumes has increased, although to a lesser extent than hanging. This became the second commonest means of suicide by males in 1995. The rate of suicide by means of a firearm decreased, especially after 1988. The annual rate varied from 6.0 to 6.8 per 100,000 males in the decade ending in 1988. The rate in 1998, 2.3 per 100,000 men, was about one-third the earlier rate. The rise in the rate for the composite category for suicide by "other and unspecified" means was mainly due to increases in falls and jumps (from high structures), threats to breathing (other than hanging) and being struck by moving objects (eg vehicles). Rates of suicide by other methods remained fairly stable over time (eg electricity, fire/flames, drowning).

Smaller changes have occurred in the methods of suicide used by females in this period (Figure 7).

Figure 7 : Trends in methods used in female suicides at all ages, Australia, 1979-1998.

Note that the scale of the vertical axis differs from that in Figure 6. Categories: Hanging, suffocation: E953; MV exhaust gas: E952.0; Firearms: E955.0-.5; Drugs, medications E950.0-.5; Other means: rest of E950-959

The most notable change is a decrease in suicide by poisoning by solid and liquid substances. This is the tail end of the epidemic of suicide by means of medications that peaked in the 1960s. The rate in 1979 was 3.5 per 100,000 population and in 1998 it was 1.7 per 100,000 population. The rate of suicide by hanging rose for females, though much less than for males. Hanging comprised 10% of all female suicide in 1979, rising to 32% in 1998. Hanging became the second commonest means of suicide by women in 1996, and in 1998 it was more common than suicide by poisoning. The rate of female suicide by motor vehicle exhaust fumes has tended to rise in recent years.

Hanging

Suicide by hanging has increased greatly, both in absolute terms and as a proportion of all suicides. While an increase has been noted previously, it warrants further attention because the latest mortality data show that the increase has continued and accelerated. Suicide by hanging, strangulation and suffocation [E953] rose from 13% of all suicides in 1980 to 45% in 1998. The 1,217 suicide deaths by hanging, strangulation and suffocation are 15% of all external cause deaths, up from 2% in 1980. Of these deaths, 1,184 were coded as hanging [E953.0].

Figure 8 : Male suicide by hanging and all other means, by selected age groups, Australia 1979-1998.

Categories: Hanging: E953.0; Other: remainder of E950-E959.

The increase in hanging is most marked at ages 20 to 39 years, but it can be seen for all five-year age groups from 15 to 19 years to 50 to 54 years. This cause of death is much more common for males than females, but an increase is evident for younger adults of both genders (Figures 8 and 9).

Figure 9 : Female suicide by hanging and all other means, by selected age groups, Australia 1979-1998.

Categories: Hanging: E953.0; Other: remainder of E950-E959.

Overall rates of suicide by all methods other than hanging are declining for males and are static for females. In 1998, suicides by hanging accounted for more than half of all suicides by males aged 15 to 39 years.