Suicide Methods

Approximately 30,000 individuals in the United States commit suicide every year, and over half a million attempt suicide. Many more think about it. Globally, about 1 million people kill themselves yearly. Men are at least four times as likely to die from suicide as women, yet women attempt suicide significantly more often than men.

The methods that individuals use to kill or to attempt to kill themselves vary according to availability and familiarity, acceptability, and intention. Women typically use less violent methods than men unless they are intent on death. Women in the United States, and in most parts of the world, are most likely to die from self-inflicted harm from poisons, hanging, and firearms. American men are most likely to die from gunshots.

Since suicidal individuals ...